Jimmy Hill Blake

Jim loved family, flying, and fishing. He owned several planes and was a private pilot for almost 50 years. He always said there were two things that made life worth living – good looking women (most especially Betty) and little babies.

He was born in Nettleton, Mississippi, on January 11, 1932 and lived there until 1948 when his family moved to Grand Prairie, Texas. While there, Jim met and married Betty on January 29, 1952. He then served in the 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper and loadmaster for two years. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he attended the University of Texas at Arlington and graduated with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1961. Soon after that, Jim moved the family to the Pacific Northwest when Braniff Airlines sent him to Boeing to take delivery of the 707’s and 727’s they were purchasing. He loved the green and trees and decided to stay. They moved to Woodinville and lived next to Bear Creek for 48 years.

He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Betty P. Blake; a daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Jerry Duppong; a daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Mike Dilorenzo; a son and daughter-in-law, Carl and Kim Blake; seven grandchildren, Tiffany Grayum, Katy Venters, Jody Campbell, Daniel Stetler, Jon Duppong, Hunter Blake, Maverick Blake; and 13 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Margaret Berryhill of Ohio.