James Carlton Blake

Funeral services for James Carlton Blake, 77, of Lufkin, will be held Sunday, November 21, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. in the Denman Avenue Baptist Church in Lufkin with Brother Charles M. Roberts and Reverend Henry Mills officiating. Interment will follow in the Fielder Cemetery.

Mr. Blake was born May 25, 1933, in Lufkin, Texas, to the late Wessie R. (Havard) and Elbert B. Blake. He died Thursday, November 18, 2010 in a Lufkin hospice facility.

Mr. Blake was the retired owner of Harbor Engine and Grinding Service, Inc., in Corpus Christi. He moved back to Lufkin from Corpus Christi in 1982. He is a U.S. Army veteran, and was stationed in Germany during the Korean Conflict.

Mr. Blake enjoyed hunting and fishing with his brothers, and was the jokester of the family. His grandchildren and great grandchildren were the loves of his life. He was a member of Denman Avenue Baptist Church, and a former member of Lufkin's First Church of the Nazarene. Mr. Blake was a Sunday School teacher for 45 years at the Nazarene Church, receiving both the Distinguished Service Award from the Nazarene Church and the ""Second Mile"" award for his years of teaching Sunday School.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Juanita Blake of Lufkin; his children and their spouses, Ricky Blake of Lufkin, Tammy and Keith Phelps of Denton, Debbie and Jerry Branson of Lufkin, and Elbert Blake of Lufkin; grandchildren, Crystal Blake, Ricky Blake, Brandon Christopher and wife Amy, Chad Christopher and wife Amanda, Kyle Phelps, Kendall Phelps, Scott Thomas and wife Alison, Blake Thomas and fiancee Becca Grewing, Josh Branson, and Matt Rives; great grandchildren, Jami Blake, Kati Blake, Riley, Jared and Delaney Christopher, and Rainey Christopher Williams; siblings and their spouses, Berniece Weisinger, Berlon and Arvis Blake, Olen and Charlene Blake, Elton and Diann Blake, Joe and Yvonne Blake; sister-in-law, Louise Anderson; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Blake was also preceded in death by sister, Geraldine Edwards, and granddaughter, Carla Blake.

Pallbearers will be Brandon Christopher, Chad Christopher, Matt Rives, Scott Thomas, Blake Thomas and Jarrod Christmas.

Honorary pallbearers will be The Bible Survey Class of Denman Avenue Baptist Church, Don Morris, C.L. Beck, and Jimmy Marshall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Bible Survey Class for care packages to the soldiers, P.O. Box 1351, Lufkin, Texas 75902; the American Cancer Society, 212 Gene Samford Dr., Lufkin, Texas 75904; or to Hospice in the Pines, 116 S. Raguet, Lufkin, Texas 75904.

Special thanks go to Dr. Robert Kistler, Dr. B. Reddy, Dr. R. Bachireddy, Dr. V. Mangla, and all their staffs, and to Hospice in the Pines.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday evening at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors