Dr. Blake Vincent Fisher Jr.

Dr. Blake Vincent Fisher Jr.—loving husband and father, trusted dentist, avid gardener, and devoted fan of the Houston Astros, Houston Oilers/Texans, and Texas Longhorns—passed away on August 2, 2026. He was 95 years old and was still laughing at his own jokes until the very end.

Early Life and Lifelong Friendships

Blake was born on March 27, 1931, in East St. Louis, Missouri, to an oil tool salesman from New York and an English immigrant mother. He grew up in the West University neighborhood of Houston, Texas, watching the area transform from oil-covered oyster-shell roads into the bustling neighborhood it is today. Blake maintained tight bonds with his classmates from Lamar Senior High School throughout his life. This close-knit group met monthly for lunch at Molina's Mexican Restaurant for over 30 years—amounting to a beautiful lifetime of friendship and a remarkable number of enchiladas.

Love, Marriage, and Military Service

Blake attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he met Carolyn Sue Gordon on a blind date at the Kirby Hall Dormitory. The two shared a beautiful marriage of 72 years, settled in Houston, and raised five children. After graduating from UT in 1954, Blake was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso and Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio for medic training, before serving at Fort Hood in Killeen as part of the 1st and 4th Armored Divisions.

A Career Built on a Whim

Upon leaving the military, Blake and Carolyn returned to Houston. He initially took a job as a typist at Anderson, Clayton and Company, despite not actually knowing how to type. Finding the work uninspiring, Blake recalled that a childhood friend’s father was a dentist and decided to head to dental school. He graduated from the University of Texas Dental School in 1962 and began practicing in Richmond, Texas. He later served as a dentist for the City of Houston before opening his own private practice. Blake practiced dentistry for over 40 years, with many loyal patients staying with him for his entire career.

Adventures, Dancing, and a Green Thumb

While traveling was rare during the busy years of raising a family and building a practice, Blake and Carolyn made up for lost time once the kids went off to college. Together, they cruised the world, visiting North Africa, the Greek Islands, Turkey, Alaska, the Caribbean, Hawaii, the Bahamas, Europe, the Danube River, Italy, Spain, Costa Rica, and Mexico. At home, Blake loved line and ballroom dancing at the Spring Branch Recreation Center, where he was frequently the only man in the class. He and Carolyn were also fixtures at Monday-Wednesday-Friday senior exercise classes, building deep friendships that were always best topped off with a hamburger or taco after a good workout.

One of Blake’s greatest joys was his yard. He found great satisfaction in mowing, weed-eating, and leaf-blowing to keep his lawn perfectly manicured. He loved growing tomatoes, grapefruit, oranges, grapes, and vibrant flowers shared equally by local squirrels (his only enemy), owls, and butterflies. Many of his happiest hours were spent sitting outside with family, enjoying a cocktail, grilling, and cheering on his beloved Astros, Oilers/Texans, and Longhorns.

Family and Legacy

Blake is survived by his beloved wife, Carolyn; his five children, Blake III (Gloria), Gail Worrell (Danny), Pam Halbrook (Allen), Scott (Stephanie), and Mike (Brenda); nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and three nephews and three nieces. He was preceded in death by his sister, Marlyn Davey Henning, brother in laws Alf Davey and Tom Henning, and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bob and Laura Gordon.

Please consider a donation in Blake’s honor to Hospice Austin or a charity of your choice.