Curtiss "Newell" Blake

boise - Curtiss Newell Blake Jr.

Curtiss Newell Blake Jr. of Boise Idaho, passed away on November 16, 2025, surrounded by those who loved him. He was born on October 22, 1960 in Chula Vista California to Curtiss Newell Blake Sr. and Shirley Blake Rinehart.

At 2 years of age his parents moved to Grangeville Idaho and he spent many happy years as a child going hunting, fishing and camping with his father, and hanging out with his best friend and cousin Kevin.

Curt loved Sports, primarily Football and Basketball. A fact well known to many of his friends and family, if there was a football stat out there he could tell you what it was. Especially if it was BSU Broncos or the Green Bay Packers! This love of Football began at an early age and his preferred reading was the sports section of the newspaper. At an early age, his teachers said he couldn't read. But then he would go home and read the sports section. We would all know that if a sports trivia was needed, and it involved football especially, turn to Curt! One of his pastimes in his later years was to go to a trivia game and blow everyone out. He won so many times that the story is told that they asked him to please not return so others could win too.

In 1975 Curt was brought into a new family when his Dad married Linda Gamel. At that time he gained Step siblings, Karen, Allen and Curt. And so began the quest of the 3 Curts. We had a Big Curt, a Middle Curt, and a Little Curt. Curt Jr became Middle Curt. Not too sure who came up with that, but it stuck! He was known in the family as Middle Curt from that day forward!

Curt also spent years in Boise ID, and Lewiston ID. He moved from Boise to Lewiston in 1975 and lived there until Graduation in 1979 from Lewiston High School. After High School, he attended North Idaho College in Coeur D'Alene ID. When he found he was not a good fit for that he decided to join the US Air Force. Curt spent 1980 to 1985 in the Air Force stationed in Reinstein Germany, Edwards AFB in California, and in KI Sawyer, Michigan. While he was in Michigan he got to attend a Green Bay Packers game much to his delight!

After the Service, he moved to Boise ID where he lived the majority of the rest of his days. He worked for Jacksons Convenience Store and Stinker Stations for many years with each of them. His favorite job was the Jacksons store near Boise State University as he got to meet many of the BSU players and coaches during the years when they had a 13-0 season!

Curt is preceded in death by his Mother Shirley Rinehart, Stepfather George Rinehart and his beloved cousin, Kevin Blake. He is Survived by his Father Curtiss Blake Sr, Stepmother Linda Blake, Sister Jamie Moeckli (Mark) and his step siblings Karen Hughes (Jeff), Allen Gamel (Debbie), Curt Gamel (Mary), Dawn Elam (Dave) and Mike Rinehart, and by numerous Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews and Cousins.

Curt always felt that Grangeville was his home and did try to return there for a short while, but ended up moving back to Boise.

Services will be held in Boise in the Spring 2026, with burial to follow in Grangeville ID.