Clyde Davies Blake Jr., 86

Clyde Davies Blake Jr., 86, of Hayden, Idaho, passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 19, 2018, after a long, well-fought battle with cancer. He was born in Spokane, Wash., on July 15, 1931, to Clyde and May Blake.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy, in 1997 and his wife, Ronnie, in 2013. He is survived by his sister, Susan (Hank) Schlueter; sons Carl (Kelly) and Paul (Evelyn); and daughter Kathy; as well as eight grandchildren and his close companion, Char Hahn.

Clyde graduated from Missoula County High School in 1949. He attended Montana State University in Missoula, earning a bachelor of science in forestry in 1953. While attending there he met Nancy Ruckman, whom he married in 1958 in Cody, Wyo.

Clyde served two years active duty in the United States Air Force from 1953 to 1955. He was in the Air Force Reserve until 1959. He worked as a forester and forest ranger for the U.S. Forest Service, which took him all over the Northwest, including Thompson Falls, Mont., Fenn, Idaho, West Yellowstone, Mont., St. Maries, Idaho, and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, from 1955 to 1988. Clyde also served as a smoke jumper helping fight forest fires. He retired in 1988 and spent eight years working for the state of Idaho. After the passing of his first wife, Nancy, he met Ronnie Liebler and married her in 2003. He always enjoyed the outdoors, gardening and spending time at Flathead Lake in Montana.

Clyde was dearly loved by family and friends and respected by all who knew him.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday July 14, 2018, at Yates Funeral Home — Coeur d’Alene Chapel, 744 N. Fourth St. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Please visit Clyde’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.