Blake Williams

Blake was born on the farm on the 2nd concession of King on July 29th, 1931.

He was the third of three sons born to Frank and Minnie (nee Johnson) Williams, becoming baby brother to brothers Bill and Charlie or Chuck.

Although living on the farm invited lots of experiences, Blake had a very hard time because of severe asthma and allergies. The attacks were frightening and resulted in many calls to his Uncle Doc. Blake didn’t stay down for long… he had 2 older brothers to catch up to, and he was not one to be sidelined!

Blake would tell you stories of skiing in to school in the winter months and going after school hours for piano lessons with Mrs. Copson. He loved learning from her and connecting with her son, who went off to serve in the war. Blake carried on with school at Aurora High School until enrolling in the army himself. He was sent out to Manitoba for training but before he could be deployed, his Dad and passed away suddenly at the young age of 66.

This proved to be a pivotal event in Blake’s life. He felt strongly that he needed to remain on the farm to help with the work and be there for his Mom. And, if Blake had remained in the army, he would never have met and married the beautiful Leola Dailey.

Blake met Lee in Aurora through their mutual love of dancing. Lee had moved down from Chesley Ontario to live and work in Aurora.

Blake set his sights on Lee and well… the rest is history. They were married June 27th, 1953 and set up home in a very small apartment along Yonge St in Aurora. They scrimped and saved and were able to purchase a cute little bungalow in Newmarket where they welcomed baby number one, Brenda Lee in 1957.

Jobs changed, pennies were saved and they were able to move back to Aurora into a full two story brick home on Harrison Ave, a street they called theirs for a total of 62 years. It was during these early years that Blake developed mechanics and business skills at Western Tire. Those were challenging, busy years with a little girl, a little puppy and a twinkle in Dad’s eye whom we met on June 27th, 1963, Nancy Anne.

It wasn’t long before Blake changed careers though, working for the Department of Transportation and Communications at Downsview as a driver examiner and then as a Center Supervisor in Aurora. He augmented this with driving bus for Larry Needler and other seasonal jobs, but his next job move was to be his last … leaving the government to work for Newmarket Bus Lines. It was here that Blake became a Safety Director and this small bus lines became part of the Laidlaw School Bus Division we know today.

Of course, it wasn’t all work… he loved a good round of euchre, golfing and camping. He took family trips to both the east and west coasts of Canada, and could he ever build a mean campfire!

Although Blake was not a swimmer, we had beautiful holidays at cottages of family members near Sauble Beach and on Lake of Bays. We even went as a family to California…by train! Blake and Lee enjoyed many winter holidays in Florida, cruises to Alaska, trips to the UK, a train trip to BC and beautiful summers at their cottage on Grandview Lake.

And family grew as families do. Brenda and Kenneth Reeve had 3 children, Lindsay (Anatoli), Jeffrey (Ava) and Justin (Christine) and one grandson, Yuri and Nancy and Paul Carroll had one son, Connor (Hilary).

Dad retired from Laidlaw in January of 1995 with a lasting legacy. He managed multiple divisions, and made significant contributions to safety with the stop sign arms you see on school buses today. After retirement he accepted an invitation to sing in the York Regional Police Men’s Chorus where he sang bass but could also sing tenor and baritone. He engaged in other community groups in retirement such as his local chapter of the Masonic Lodge, Probus and the Royal Canadian Legion.

His later years were challenged with health concerns that restricted his mobility and energy, but Blake always found a smile and a joke for those he met.

Blake and Lee sold their beloved home at 39 Harrison Ave just two years ago, taking up residence at Hollandview Trail in Aurora where they remained together until December 28th, 2023 when Dad passed holding his beloved Lee’s hand.

Blake is predeceased by his father Frank Williams, mother Minnie Williams, brothers Bill Williams and Charles Williams. He is survived by his wife Lee Williams, daughters Brenda Reeve (Kenneth) and Nancy Carroll (Paul), four grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Services will be held at Thompson’s Funeral Home, 530 Industrial Pkwy S , Aurora.

Visitation on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2023 from 3:00pm -6:00pm.

Funeral on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2023 1:00 pm. Reception to follow. All welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to your preferred charity in Blake’s honour. Thank you.