Gerald 'Jerry' Blake, 66
Gerald "Jerry" Blake, 66, died Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006, at his ranch in Garrison. Jerry was born in Missoula on Nov. 10, 1939, to Fritz and Alene Blake. He attended high school in Missoula and Butte, graduating from Butte Public High School in 1957.
Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Army upon graduation from high school and was stationed at Fort Dix, Fort Ord, and Frankfurt, Germany, where he was an accomplished marksman on the U.S. Army Skeet Team. After completing his tour of duty, Jerry attended the University of Montana, where he studied English and history.
In June 1963, Jerry married Gloria Christopher. He started his automotive career at 93 Chrysler in Missoula as a mechanic, and ultimately shop foreman. From there he became a Chrysler service representative for the state of Montana. Jerry's career led him through an unprecedented rise from mechanic up through the corporate ranks to the executive level. This required the family to relocate numerous times from Oregon to California to Texas, and ultimately Detroit.
Jerry graduated with an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from Duke University in 1987. He led the entire Mopar organization including marketing, parts warehousing, distribution and inventory. He went on to create and implement the sales organization "Team Mopar."
Jerry married Jacqueline Fisher in May 1985 in Detroit. Jerry retired from Chrysler in December 1993, and he and Jackie relocated to their ranch at Garrison. There he pursued his many interests including hunting, fishing and the restoration of muscle cars and M37 Army trucks. Jerry's mechanical abilities were well known, winning him honors at numerous car shows, as well as a national reputation of excellence.
Jerry loved spending time with family and friends at his vacation home on the east shore of Flathead Lake.
Jerry enjoyed his 12 grandchildren and four nephews and three nieces, teaching them gun safety, fishing, hunting, mechanics and sharing his love of history.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Fritz and Alene Blake; and his son, Kenneth.
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Blake, of Garrison; sister, Anna Gibson, of Phoenix; daughter, Kimberly Blake, of Kalispell; stepdaughters, Denise Polin, Diane Bauman and Jill Stuk, of Michigan; stepson, Todd Fisher, of Virginia; 12 grandchildren, four nephews, three nieces; and his dearest friends, David Wren and Jack Hinkle.
Memorial services will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Jewell Funeral Home in Deer Lodge.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the Powell County Memorial Hospital Foundation or the Highland Hospice of Deer Lodge.