Kathleen ‘Sally’ Blake

SALEM — Kathleen “Sally” Blake passed away peacefully on June 6, 2025, at the age of 94, in Salem. Born on May 29, 1931, in Cowen, West Virginia, Sally was the daughter of the late John and Elsie (Henderson) Fletcher.

Sally worked at Dairy Mart, where she served as a supervisor from 1994 until her retirement in 2009. Prior to her tenure at Dairy Mart, Sally was a diligent clerk at the Monongahela Power Co., where she made many lasting friendships and was respected for her attention to detail and congenial nature. She was a member of Church at the Center.

The youngest of 12 children on the family farm with no running water, Sally often cooked three meals a day while the others were out working in the fields. Cooking from scratch was her specialty, making the very best biscuits, cornbread and cobblers. She remembered everyone’s favorite foods and prioritized cooking those for them each time they visited. She was a spunky lady who was not afraid to share her opinions while still showing love and compassion. She had a positive influence on everyone via her common sense, down-home advice and mannerisms. The Blake house was always a gathering place for her kids and their friends, and later in life for the extended family. She loved playing card games, enjoyed reading, watching college basketball, and spending time with her grandkids and great-grandkids.

She is survived by her children, Nancy (Glenn) Herman of Spokane, Washington, and James Blake of Salem (Sheila Blake of Zanesville). Sally was a proud grandmother to six grandchildren: Peggy (Derek) Caveney, Sara Keen, Joe (Shelbi) Blake, Emily Blake, Blake (Nora Mertens) Herman, and Irina Petty; and six great-grandchildren, Clark Madden, Jack Caveney, Grant Caveney, Isabella Petty, Stephen Keen, and Felix Herman-Mertens.

Sally was predeceased by her beloved husband, Keith J. Blake, with whom she shared a loving marriage from Dec. 31, 1958, until his passing on Aug. 7, 1990. She was also preceded in death by her five brothers and six sisters.

Private Services will be held at Stark Memorial. Burial will be at Woodsdale Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be given to the American Lung Association-Cancer Research www.lung.org or Disabled American Veterans at help.dav.org.

To view this obituary, send condolences, or order flowers please visit www.starkmemorial.com.

6/11/25