William M. Blaik , was born April 25, 1927, in Dayton, Ohio, to Merle McDowell Blaik and Col. Earl H. ''Red'' Blaik . He spent most of his youthful years in the northeast. He attended Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire in 1945, served in the U.S. Army Occupation Forces in Germany from 1946-1948 and, upon return to the States, attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, where he graduated with a BS in Geology. After graduation, he began his career in the oil and gas industry working for Standard Oil. Several years after, he formed Blaik Oil Company in 1956 and explored for oil and gas in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. He enjoyed the great and exciting days as an independent oil producer until the end of that era, at which time he sold his company, as well as cattle and real estate operations in Kansas and Colorado, and began a well deserved retirement. His accomplishments in the oil and gas industry pale in comparison to his accomplishments in his personal life. He married the love of his life, Shirley Spencer, on June 10, 1967, and spent many wonderful years traveling and enjoying the company of family and friends. He felt that Shirley was a great and understanding companion and ardent supporter without whom he would have surely drifted. He had a son and a daughter whom he adored beyond words. His passions in his waning years were his ranch in Logan County and his guitar. Despite all of his accomplishments, he was very simple man with simple needs and all he ever wanted, above all else, was to spend time with his family. He leaves behind his wife, Shirley; son, Will Blaik and wife, Sherri; daughter, Katie Blaik James and husband, John; grandchildren, Mattox and Allison Blaik and Elizabeth James; step-grandchildren, Conner and Jackson James; and a brother, Robert Blaik of Scottsdale, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to: All Souls' Episcopal Church, 6400 N. Pennsylvania, OKC, OK 73116 or to the Blaik Family Fund, Casady School, 9500 N. Pennsylvania, OKC, OK 73120. A private memorial service will be held at All Souls' Epsicopal Church, on Wednesday, September 25, with a reception at 5:00 p.m., for family and friends in the home.

The Oklahoman - Wednesday, September 24, 2008