Roy Vernon Blake
Born to Solomon Valentine Blake and Thomasena Johnston on Lopez Island in the Salish Sea of Puget Sound off the coast of NW Washington State. This Island is one of the 3 largest in the group of San Juan Islands laying off the Straits of of San de Fuca. He is the grandson of James Blake Sr. who came with his parents from Armagh County, Province of Ulster, Northern Ireland (pronounced R Maw)that immigrated in 1829 to Canada. His grandfather immigrated from Canada in 1883 as a widower with 3 wives and 13 children. His grandmother was the 1st wife, Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Shannon. She died about age 39 and was buried in East Huron County, Ontario, Canada

His father Solomon "Sol" Valentine Blake was the 6th child of his mother's 7 children.

Roy Victor Blake's father followed his father James Blake Sr. to Lopez in 1888 (he was born in Seaforth, Tuckersmith Twp., Huron County, Ontario. Solomon immigrated to Lopez, following his father in 1888 at the age of 24 and would live in a home just up the road from James Sr. on north end of Fisherman's Bay Rd.

January 5, 1917 Roy V. Blake registered for WWI. Description Medium height (5'4"), Stout build, Lt Blue eyes and light brown hair. He was 22 working at the occupation of Steamboating for Johnson Banks Cannery Company out of Richardson, Lopez Island, Washington. He listed that his mother was a dependent. His mother Sena Blake had separated from his father.

1920 Roy, age 25, was living on Lopez Island. Renting a place while he worked as a Laborer in a Cannery. His younger brother was living with his mother who divorced his father, Solomon.

1922, July 17 Roy married Ester Mae Presthold from Iowa. Ester's parents were Havor A Presthold b: 1869 & Hannah B. Mestad b: 1878.

1942 Roy was living in Seattle and again registered for the 1942 Draft Registration for WWII. He was 47 years, living at 2558 Westlake N., Seattle, King County, Washington Working for A.R.Bruger Packing Company at 232 Bell St. Terminal, Seattle.

Roy and Ester were a happy couple that would drive from Seattle to Bellingham for the Blake Family Picnic. Always a welcome sight to Lopez islanders attending the picnic. Seeing Aunts, Uncles, cousins and their children.

Roy Victor Blake passed away in Stanwood Snohomish, Washington but he was buried at the Lopez Island Cemetery on Davis Bay Road in Plat 2 Plot U18 Ashes, Stone, as a Veteren of WWI

Tombstone for Roy V. Blake.

Roy Vernon Blake in his World War I uniform. Roy was 5 ft. 4 inches, strong build man of 160 lbs of bone and muscle. Blue eyes and brown hair.