Barbara Chisholm Blake

Barbara Chisholm Blake, beloved matriarch of our clan, passed away in her sleep Sunday morning, April 7, 2013, at her daughter's home in Gilroy, Calif. She was almost 92 years old. Barbara grew up in Walla Walla, Wash., attended Whitman College for two years then transferred to Antioch College in Ohio, where she met her future husband, Emmons. They lived in the San Diego area while Emmons served in the U.S. Navy, then moved to San Luis Obispo, so Emmons could complete his studies at Cal Poly. Together they established Blake Printery, raised three children and became enthusiastic members of the community. Barbara stoked the home fires while simultaneously serving as bookkeeper for the business. Classroom mother, costume maker and chief cheerleader, our mother always had time to listen and support everything we did. She continued this deep involvement with her grandchildren. When the children were grown, Barbara and Emmons started a second career as center managers with FEMA. They ran disaster relief from Guam to Pennsylvania to Louisiana. Two suitcases were always packed, one for the tropics, one for the cold, ready for the call. Barbara continued with FEMA even when Emmons' deafness precluded his going. She would come home glowing with enthusiasm and recounted stories involving snakes in floods, disaster centers in steamy jungles and sleeping on the floor in hotels blown apart by hurricanes '? She loved it. Barbara was a world traveler, usually with Emmons, but often also with her children. When she could no longer ride an elephant, she delighted in cruises to Antarctica and Alaska '? anywhere she could see wild animals. Mother loved to learn and experience new things and she lived a long and happy life. She was an extraordinary role model for us all. Barbara is survived by her children Diana Barnhart (John), Richard Blake (Arleen) and Jodi Heinzen (Ric); grandchildren Bryan and Brendon Barnhart, Melissa Blake and Randy and Jeff Heinzen; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Emmons. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2013, at the First Presbyterian Church, corner of Marsh and Osos in San Luis Obispo. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Rancho El Chorro Outdoor School, 2450 Pennington Creek Road, SLO, CA 93405.