Benjamin L. Blake

Benjamin LaRay Blake, of Midland, passed away Thursday, February 2, 2006.

Born July 10, 1954 to Benton LaRay Blake and Helen Jean Owens Blake in Safford, Arizona, Ben was raised and educated in Phoenix, Arizona. Following high school graduation, he continued his education at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where he received his Bachelors and Masters of Accountancy degrees. He served a two year LDS Mission in Düsseldorf, Germany. On February 7, 1976, he married LaRae Smith in the LDS Temple in Provo, Utah. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Since 1983, Mr. Blake worked for Barbara Fasken, and later for her Family Trust and Limited Partnership, now known as Fasken Oil and Ranch, Ltd. He was the Assistant General Manager and Chief Financial Officer, served as a trustee of several Fasken family trusts, and was a Director of the family foundation, The Prairie Foundation. As Chairman of the Foundation's Grants Committee, his activities benefited many people throughout the community. He was an officer and director of many of the family business entities, being responsible for business activities in the oil and gas industry in the Permian Basin as well as real estate interests in Laredo and San Antonio, Texas, and in California. In Laredo, he was primarily responsible for the company's hotel property, the La Posada Hotel.

Ben is survived by his wife, LaRae Blake of Midland, TX; children, Eric Benjamin Blake and his wife, Tanya, of Salt Lake City, UT; Lisa Merkley and her husband, Eric, of Edmonds, WA; Michelle Blake of Provo, UT; Jennifer Blake of Provo, UT; Emily Blake, serving an LDS Mission in St. George, UT; Spencer Jared Blake, serving an LDS Mission in Salta, Argentina; Rebecca Blake of Midland, TX; and Heidi Blake of Midland, TX; parents, Benton and Jean Blake of American Fork, UT; siblings, Karen Sell and husband, Gary, of Highland, UT; Stuart Blake and wife, Gayle, of West Jordan, UT; Doris Blackham and husband, Paul, of Sandy, UT; Stephen Blake and wife, Cathlene, of Riverton, UT; Jeana Lyons and husband, Mike, of Pleasant Grove, UT; Janice Hutchings and husband, Lee, of Lehi, UT; and Julie Blake of Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren, Joshua and Tyler Merkley, and Natalie Blake.

The family will receive friends at Ellis Funeral Home, Sunday, February 5, 2006 between the hours of 6:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M.

Funeral services have been scheduled for 10:00 A.M. Monday, February 6, 2006 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2101 Tarleton Street. Interment will be at Orem City Cemetery in Orem, Utah. Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home.

Memorials may be directed to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, Texas 77210-4486 or Hospice of Midland, P.O. Box 2621, Midland, Texas 79702.