He is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Joni (Martin) Blake; son Gregory (Lauren) Blake; daughter Jillian Blake; son-in-law Nicholas Damian; grandchildren Evelyn Blake, Paige Damian and Isaac Damian; brothers Gary and Paul Blake; sister Marsha (Don) O'Neal; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mark was a standout athlete at Tenino High School, competing in football as an all-league defensive tackle, wrestling as a state placer, and track, where he still holds the school record in the discus. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying all types of fishing and hunting, but especially big-game hunting as a younger man and then waterfowl in his backyard duck blind or up on Skagit Bay as he got older. It is possible nobody will miss him more than his favorite hunting partner, his black Labrador, Gus. Mark would often say that waterfowl season was his favorite, since the limit started over each day instead of having to wait until the next year.
He spent most mornings in the blind with his friend Jim. He enjoyed time spent fishing and hunting on the Skagit River with his brother Paul, and on the Chehalis River with his nephew Scott and friend Mike, as well as ocean fishing and clam digging with his friends Keith and Bryan. He will miss this year's trip for spring chinook on the Columbia River with his friend Howard, which had become an annual tradition.
He was looking forward to spending more time with his brother-in-law Jeff now that Jeff had retired, and was especially close to his brother-in-law Jerry, having known and worked with him for so many years. He also will miss the completion of the rock walls and granite staircase at our place, courtesy of his friend Rick. He was thrilled to finally see cattle prices at a level close to where he thought they should be and to have a fancy new tractor to make hay in the summer and to feed with in the winter. He would take comfort in knowing that we have had such good help around the farm thanks to our close friends Gerry and Ashley, and their daughters, who were like grandchildren to him.
Mark loved to be outdoors, working with his hands, and either praising or complaining about the weather. He did a variety of jobs over the years, but operating equipment of various sorts was his forte. He was loyal and generous with his friends and family, understanding that time spent together was not to be taken for granted.
We will keep Mark in our hearts, thinking of him when the eagles perch in the cottonwood trees, when the sparrowhawk and kites hover over the pastures, when the geese go honking across the sky, and when the blue heron lands near the pond. He truly loved his life here on the farm and felt extremely lucky to live in such a beautiful place, surrounded by his livestock and many types of wildlife, and being next door to his children and grandchildren. We were just as lucky to have him. We will miss him dearly and hope to keep his legacy alive for many years to come.
A celebration of life will be held later this summer, likely around Mark's birthday in September.
