Blake Ford

Blake was the love of Muriel Elliot's life, a wonderful partner, and a devoted father to Kerri Codville for close to 50 years. He passed away unexpectedly after living life to the fullest until the very end. He maintained an active lifestyle, regularly working out and walking thousands of steps daily, always in motion.

Despite undergoing four heart surgeries and receiving excellent healthcare, he remained optimistic, enthusiastic, and curious about all aspects of life.

Born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Blake spent most of his youth in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. There, he helped his father build their family home, rode his motorcycle, and played the clarinet in the Sea Cadets marching band. As a teenager, he spent summers lifeguarding and served as student council president during his Grade 12 year.

He graduated from the University of Calgary with a PhD in Educational Psychology and was honoured with the Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award by the Canadian Guidance and Counselling Association in 1975. He then moved to Burnaby, British Columbia, where he worked for the Burnaby School District office (SD#41) until his retirement.

Family and friends were incredibly important to Blake. Holidays were filled with tent camping, travel, and cherished time with his extended family and friends. He embraced the role of a loving father to Kerri and later became a wonderful grandfather to Hugo and Hannah Watson.

Woodworking was one of his many passions, leading to the creation of his prized wood shop and a timber frame recreational home on the Sunshine Coast. Blake spent most of his adult life bringing people together through delicious gourmet meals, demonstrating a zest for life by exploring the world through creative recipes and crafting unique flavours for those he loved and cared about.

One of Blake's most appreciated talents was his gift as an orator. He had a remarkable ability to stir powerful emotions and insightful thought in his listeners. He possessed the gift of saying the right thing and knowing how to capture a moment or an important family event.

Everyone who loved him feels fortunate to have had such a beautiful soul in their lives.