Blake - Gilbert Stephen
Gilbert Stephen BLAKE
Source: Waveland Independent, Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana Feb 21, 1930
In Parke County on Dec 6, 1852, a little babe came to brighten the home of Isaac and Eliza Blake, who was christened Gilbert Stephen. He was the 4th of a family of 13. He spent the greater part of his life in Parke & Montgomery Counties. Dec 21, 1881 he was married to Jennie Mitchell with whom he lived in the happy bonds of love, until he answered the Voice of Jesus on Friday night, Feb 14th at 9 o'clock at the age of 77 years, 2 months and 8 days. To this union one son was born, dying in infancy, one daughter, Jessie, now Mrs. Zura Monroe, in whose home he was when God in his infinite wisdom saw fit to remove him from all earthly suffering to the home of eternal bliss. He was converted at the age of 13. He united himself with the Freedom Baptist Church in 1915, in which he continued in steadfast faith to the end. His beautiful and unselfish disposition that has always characterized him, was wonderfully manifested through his sickness. His message to us would be words of Bryant in "Thanatopsis"
So live that when thy summons comes to join the innumerable carvants that moves To the pale realms of shade where each shall take His chamber in the silent halls of Death. Thou go not like a quarry-slave at night, Scourged to his dungeon but sustained and soothed By an unfaltering trust approach thy grave Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him and lies down to pleasant dreams." He leaves to mourn their loss a devoted wife, daughter, son-in-law, one brother, Newton Blake of Rockville, two granddaughters, Mrs. Waneta Bannon, of Parkersburg and Mrs. Naomi Cox of Crawfordsville, and two great grandchildren, a host of relatives and sympathsizing friends. "For through from out our bourne of time and place The flood may bear me far I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crossed the bar." Funeral services were conducted by Rev. HH Elmore at the Freedom Baptist Church on Sunday afternoon. Burial at Freedom Cemetery. Pall bearers were: Tude Canine, RL Canine, Will Mitchell, George Deere, Albert Rice and Ed Myers. The flower bearers were Mrs. Waneta Bannon, Mrs. Naoma Cox, Mrs. Jake Glascock and Mrs. Geo. Loman, Jr. Those from a distance were Newton Blake and daughter Oakey and Joe Blake of Ferndale; Mr. and Mrs. George Deere, Mrs. John Beeson, Mrs. Elva Whittington, Mr. and Mrs. Cox and Miss Margery, Cash Flannigan, Eddie Brandecamp and Miss Louise Campbell of Crawfordsville and Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Clore of Alamo. - kbz