James Aloysius Blake Jr.

Jim was born in Tampa, FL on March 26th, 1943 to James Sr. and Mary Ann Blake. A true “Florida Cracker”, Jim was the second of six children; the first born son, and never let anyone forget it. As every good Floridian should, Jim educated himself at the University of Florida, where he earned his Master’s degree in Agriculture. He then spent the next thirty-eight years perfecting his craft while spreading joy, friendship and fertilizer up and down the state of Florida.

In July 1972, Jim had the privilege of meeting the woman of his dreams, Judy Anne Cadenhead. Known to never let a good thing go, they got engaged and were married in 1973. Firmly planted in the Naples area, they had three wonderful children.

Jim retired in 2008, but never stopped working around his home. In 2013, Jim had the pleasure of meeting his first grandson. He loved his family, his dogs, old movies, his generation’s music, the Gators, and listening to Rush Limbaugh. Every day for the last ten years, he would check the obituaries to, “Make sure I’m not in them today.” Well, today is finally your day…

Jim is survived by his wife, Judy Anne; his children, James David, Jennifer Anne, Janet Elizabeth and her husband James Sterling; his grandson, James Wolford Sterling; his siblings, Mary Ann Graham, Timothy Blake, Nancy Grundy, Kathy Dunn, Beth Blake Maroney and many nieces and nephews.

There will be a viewing on Sunday, December 28th from 6-8pm and funeral service Monday, December 29th at 2pm at the Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens, 525 111th Ave N, Naples, Florida 34108. There is also an online guest book on the Hodges Funeral Home website.