John Mason Blake Jr.

John M. Blake, Jr. of Quitman, LA, formerly of Cullen, LA stepped into the Portals of Glory at 9:50 p.m. on June 19, 2022. He was born on August 6, 1942, in Springhill, LA to the union of John Mason Blake, Sr. and Ezona Gibbs Blake. John retired from Arizona Chemical Co. and Webster Parish Police Jury. He graduated from Springhill High School where he was a member of the marching band. On May 27, 2000, he married Brenda Koonce of Quitman, LA.
John had a deep passion for music, especially Southern Gospel Music. He attended the Stamps-Baxter School of Music in Dallas, TX for two summers while in high school. John went on to share his talents for 60 years, as a church music minister or church pianist, serving in several churches in North LA and South AR. John and Brenda traveled extensively for 20 years attending county, state and national 7-Shape Note Gospel Singing conventions across the south. He served for two years as President of the LA State Gospel Singing Convention.
They were, also, members of the Springhill Good Sams Woodchoppers R. V. Club meeting monthly with the club. They enjoyed traveling for many years in their R.V. to states throughout the United States.
John served on the Webster Parish Library Board, the CDC of North LA, South AR, and East TX. He was a member of the Webster Parish Council on Aging, the Police Jury Board for the State of LA, and the Quarter Century Club of Springhill, LA.
He was a fun-loving, hardworking, multi-talented person who was always looking for new projects to work on. John loved his family and extended family dearly. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Services will be held 10:30 A.M. Thursday, June 23, 2022, at Beech Springs Baptist Church in Quitman, LA with Rev. Jerry Phillips of Arlington, TX and Rev. Jason Walsworth of Ruston, LA officiating. John served along side Rev. Jerry Phillips in the past. Interment will follow in Beech Springs Church Cemetery under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Ruston, LA. A visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until service time at the church for friends and family.
He is survived by his loving wife Brenda; children, Ashley (Crystal) Blake; Julie Blake. Stepchildren, Kevin (Amanda) Koonce; Keith (Dana) Koonce; Step-grandchildren, Klay (Mollie) Koonce; Chelsea (Clay) Alexander; Brittany Koonce and friend Ty; and Bradley Koonce. Step-great-grandchildren, Ellie Grace, Kynlee Kate, Maebry Jane Koonce, and the little expected someone new Easton Alexander. Also, brother's Ben (Suzie) Blake and Jerry Blake; nieces, Misty Carpenter and Natalie Farrington; nephews, Rickie Blake, Ronnie Blake, Ryan Blake, Sean Allen, and Gary Carpenter.
John is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Travis Blake; sisters-in-law Peggy Blake and Glenda Blake; and his niece Melody Blake.
Pallbearers will be Ricky Blake, Ronnie Blake, Paul Dickeson, Ryan Blake, Sean Allen, and Gary Carpenter. Honorary pallbearers are stepsons, Kevin and Keith Koonce and step-grandsons, Klay Koonce, Bradley Koonce and long-time friend, Bill Baldwin.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com
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