Jerry Lea Blake

August 16, 1936 – July 31, 2026

Jerry Lea Blake, 89, of Clermont, Florida, peacefully went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, July 31, 2026.

Jerry was born on August 16, 1936 in Clintwood, Virginia to Auty Rose and Hattie Sluss Rose. She graduated from Clintwood High School and carried with her the values of faith, humility, hard work, and love that guided her throughout her life.

She was married to Tom Blake, and together they raised the family that became the greatest blessing of their lives.

Jerry spent many years working alongside Tom at Big Bear Grocery Stores before dedicating more than 15 years of service to Walmart. She was a hardworking, dependable woman who believed in doing her best and treating everyone with kindness.

Above all else, Jerry loved Jesus. Her faith was the foundation of her life and the source of her strength. She trusted the Lord through every season, believed deeply in the power of prayer, and lived each day with grace, humility, and compassion. She didn’t simply talk about her faith—she lived it.

Jerry found happiness in life’s simple blessings. She loved crocheting gifts for family and friends, tending to her flowers and gardens, caring for her beloved cats, and spending time with the people she loved most. She enjoyed relaxing with episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, Gunsmoke, and Bonanza, while listening to the comforting gospel music of the Gaithers. She lived a quiet and peaceful life, never asking for much beyond her faith, her family, and the simple joys God graciously gave her.

Jerry is survived by her loving children, Saundra Napalapalai (Kalei) and Michael Blake (Lori); her cherished grandchildren, Brittany Smith (Preston) and Ryan Blake (Tasha); her beloved great-grandson, Lawson Smith; her sister, Phyllis Byrd; her brothers, Frank Rose and Harold Rose; and many loving nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends who will forever cherish her memory.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Auty Rose and Hattie Sluss Rose, and her beloved sisters, Mae Rakes, Nola Moore, and Igene Crotty.

Jerry’s legacy is not measured by the years she lived but by the lives she touched. She taught those around her that the greatest gifts in life are faith, family, forgiveness, and unconditional love. Her gentle spirit, quiet strength, and unwavering faith will continue to live on in the hearts of everyone blessed enough to know her.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” — Psalm 46:1

A committal will be held at Woodlawn Memorial Park & Cremation Gardens, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, FL 34734, US, on August 8, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.