Philip Park Blake

Philip Park Blake, 77, left this world on November 24, 2018, from Sanctuary Hospice House, Tupelo, MS, to enter his Heavenly home in the arms of his loving wife Carolyn.

Graveside services, with Military Honors, will be held December 1, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Friendship Cemetery with Rev. Curtis Bray officiating.

The son of the late Walter Howard and Charlotte Park Blake, Mr. Blake was born September 23, 1941 in Orange, NJ. He was an Air Force veteran, who was stationed at Columbus Air Force Base, when he met the love of his life, Carolyn Easley. They married on December 14, 1963, and shortly after their marriage they moved to Dover-Foxcroft, ME, where they lived until moving to Columbus in the summer of 2018. He retired as the Plant Manager of the Mountain View Correctional Facility for the state of Maine. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother David Howard Blake.

Mr. Blake was an avid outdoorsman, who flourished in the wilderness of Maine and all of the nature and wildlife it offered. He could be found outdoors all during the four seasons – hunting, fishing, or hiking the trails of his adopted state. He built a beautiful country home for Carolyn and himself outside of Dover-Foxcroft, where he established many walking trails and enjoyed the natural setting and the wildlife on his land. He was a self-taught expert at anything he attempted, whether it be construction, identifying songbirds or training dogs to accompany him on his hunting trips. He enjoyed having family visit and showing them the beautiful scenery and sights that drew him to Maine. He always made time to spend with the children in his family, no matter how busy he was. His patience and calm demeanor made him a favorite uncle of all and a beloved brother-in-law who could always be counted on to lend a helping hand when needed.

He is survived by his wife Carolyn Easley Blake of Columbus, his sister-in-law Pam Riley Blake of New Jersey, his nephews David Walter Blake of Indiana, Christopher Michael Blake (Gwendolyn and their daughter Phoebe Marie Blake), James Richard Riley (sons Steven Blake Riley and Nicholas Marion Riley), and his niece Amanda Riley Becker (Chuck and their daughter Riley Anne Becker) all of New Jersey. He is also survived by his brother -in -law James William “Buddy” Easley, Jr. (Kathy), his sisters -in-law Frances Ann Hawkins, Glenda Beard (Wayne) Rose Marie Coggins (Danny), all of Columbus and Cynthia McGee (Forrest) of Richmond, VA. He is also survived by his Easley nieces and nephews  Carol  Anne Stafford (Jim), Angelia Lytle (Sean), Beth Hawkins (Chris), Eddie Hawkins(Mary Helen) Phil Coggins, Jeff Coggins (Jessie), Katie Santiago  (Anthony), great nieces and nephews Sarah Cantrell (Oren), Taylor Cox(Corey) and Trey Hawkins, and great-great nieces and nephews Cooper Cantrell, Kendall Cox and James Coggins.

Although his presence is gone, his memory will live on, with love, by all who knew him.

Memorials may be made in his honor to Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803.