Henry Ernest Blake

Henry Ernest Blake died on Saturday, February 5, 2022, surrounded by family at home in his beloved Paradise Valley, Park County, MT. He was born February 23, 1939, in Alexandria, Louisiana to Violet Hardtner (Blake) Howell of Urania, Louisiana and James Dows Blake of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Henry was preceded in death by Harris Lyman Blake (son), William Dows Blake (brother), Jean Burnum Blake (wife). He is survived by James Hardtner Blake (brother); his children, Caroline Hardtner Blake Faris, William Henry Walker Blake, Catherine Loren Morris, and Stephen Burnum Morris; his grandchildren, Isabelle Burnum Ryland, Ellen Elizabeth Morris, Philip Lyman Faris, Justin Henry Morris, Catherine Garnett Ryland, Stephen Hardtner Faris, Lee Edward Morris, Jayne Holloway Morris, Caroline Juliet Faris, Rachel O'Connell Chase and Thomas James Chase. Henry attended schools in Alexandria, LA; New Orleans, LA; Lake Charles, LA; and graduated from the Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA. He graduated from Tulane University where he was student body president and a proud member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Upon graduation from the business school at Tulane, he began his career at Howard, Weil, Labouisse, Friedrichs Securities Investment Firm. He then went into the family business at Urania Lumber Company (LaSalle Parish). After it was sold to Georgia-Pacific, he went to work at Security First National Bank of Alexandria where he was the Vice Chairman of the Board and the Investment and Trust Officer. After the bank's sale to Regions Financial Corporation, Henry retired and enjoyed many years golfing, fly fishing, hunting, traveling the world, attending the 4th of July Livingston Round-up Rodeo, and becoming the proud owner of a herd of award-winning alpacas. A life-long member of the Episcopal Church, Henry was the founding officer as Treasurer of the Diocese of Western Louisiana, a position he held for twenty years. He was also a life-long member of the Louisiana Forestry Association and the Louisiana Forestry Foundation. He held several offices in both of these organizations. In addition to these life-long memberships, Henry was a committed Rotarian, a passionate community contributor, and known as the Father of Alexandria Mardi Gras Krewe of Parlangua, which he founded together with a band of fellow revelers in 1987. Lover of the arts, education and healthcare, Henry was a prolific philanthropist, donating cheerfully and generously to many community organizations in both Alexandria, LA, and Livingston, MT. Separate services at dates to be determined will be held at St. James Episcopal Church in Alexandria, LA and at St. John's Episcopal Church in Emigrant, MT. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. James Episcopal Church, Alexandria, LA; St. John's Episcopal Church, Emigrant, MT; the Harris Lyman Blake Fund at Camp Hardtner, Pollock, LA; the Mount Olivet Cemetery Fund, Pineville, LA; or the Louisiana Forestry Foundation. Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.