Fredson Irving Blake, 84, died Jan. 26 at St. Andrews Hospital, Boothbay Harbor.
He was born July 13, 1923, in Newcastle, a son of Irving E. and Hazel Lailer Blake. He grew up in Boothbay and attended local schools. At the age of 16 he began his entrepreneurial career by buying a garage in Wiscasset.
He married Virginia Barter on April 13, 1941.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943 and was a veteran of WWII. After the war he worked for Manley Reed and purchased the boatyard from Manley in 1951, renaming it Blake s Boatyard. He later bought a machine shop, which now sits next to the Tugboat Inn. He purchased Pier 1 from Gulf Oil in 1961 and ran it as Blake s Marine. He sold it to his sons in 1973 and continued on as an advisor of the family business until his death.
He was a charter member of the Boothbay Region Lions Club, member of Bayview Masonic Lodge AF & AM #196, Kora Temple Shriners where he was an assistant Potentate, Downeast Yacht Club, numerous golf clubs, Boothbay Region Fish & Game Association, Charles E. Sherman American Legion Post, and V.F.W.
He was an avid golfer, boater, and hunter. He recently purchased a new hunting dog, “Maisy,” to go bird hunting next season. He was a family man who always enjoyed getting together with his family to share meals and good times. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
He is predeceased by his wife, Virginia Barter Blake, who died in 2002.
He is survived by sons, Joseph A. Blake and wife Brenda of Barters Island, Gary I. Blake and wife Cathy of Boothbay, and Neil F. Blake and wife Sheila of Boothbay; grandchildren, Tyler Blake and wife Lynn of Boothbay, Aaron Blake and wife Christine of Boothbay, Amy Goodwin and husband Dusty of East Boothbay, Charlinda Carlson and husband Matt of Newcastle, Jessica Vilar of Burbank, Cal., and Karen O teri of West Bridgewater, Mass.; and great-grandchildren, Hali, Ethan, Gavin, Kyra, Sydney, and Kari.
Visiting hours 6-8 p.m., Wed., Jan. 30 at Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home, 975 Wiscasset Rd., Boothbay.
Funeral with military honors 11 a.m., Thurs., Jan 31 at the Charles E. Sherman American Legion, Boothbay followed by a reception at the legion. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery, Boothbay.
Donations may be made in Fred’s memory to the Boothbay Region Fish & Game, P.O. Box 408, Boothbay, ME 04537.
Arrangements are entrusted to Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Boothbay.
