Larry Forest Blake, “A noble Son”, passed away peacefully on September 4 2019 due to age and the consequences of a lifetime with cerebral palsy. Larry was born at home in Ogden, Utah, December 14, 1936 to Forest Odell Blake and Irene Levanger Blake. He was born with the incapacitating disease cerebral palsy and was unable to walk or speak well. He faced his entire life confined within a body he could not control well. Notwithstanding his challenges he shared joy, a willingness to try, happiness, friendliness, no guile, no anger, a smile, a recognizable glint in his eye, and all with determination and courage.
Larry had to be assisted in his daily preparations and eating by his mother and his siblings. He would continually wear out the toes of his shoes and the knees of his overalls moving about on the carpeted and wooden floors of the house. Christmas morning for the family could not begin until Larry had dressed himself and arrived by the Christmas tree.
At age 12 Larry moved with his family to Nampa Idaho where he became a resident of the Idaho State School and Hospital in Nampa. As a resident he made friends with his nurse, Rachel, and a fellow patient George (Georgie) Randall. Georgie was also born with cerebral palsy. Larry and Georgie, were happy together and delighted in causing much entertainment, havoc and mischief of one kind or another for the staff. In their wheelchairs they found a way to hide in the sub-basement of the hospital.
After Larry’s family moved to Heyburn for his father’s employment, Larry was moved to a State training facility in Pocatello, Idaho, where the family could visit him more often. After his father and mother passed away Larry’s siblings moved him to a group home in Salt Lake City, Utah, until, with the assistance of United Cerebrial Palsy of Utah, he was permanently accepted into a marvelous Independent Living Apartment in the Avion apartments administered by The Foundation for Independency.
Larry is preceded in death by his father, Forest Odell Blake, his mother Irene Levanger Blake and younger Brother William (Bill) Byron Blake. He is survived by his four loving and lovely sisters, Norma Jean Blake Wells, (Cecil Wells, deceased,) Muriel Blake Mauldin, (Orval Mauldin), Kay Lynn Blake Wakefield, (Garth Wakefield), and Anna Marie Blake Griffin.
A celebration of Life will be held Thursday September 12 at 10:30 for the family and 11:00 to 12:00 for his friends at the Russon Mortuary at 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah. Those desiring to pay a brief verbal tribute to Larry may do so.
Interment will immediately follow at the Bountiful, Utah, cemetery located at 2225 South 2nd West.
The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the wonderful administration and staff who so loving and tenderly attended to Larry at the Avion Apartments, to those of the Jordon Valley Hospital Doctors and nurses, and to his other providers. They helped him do community service, attend church services, movies, games, and other fun entertainment.
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