Blake, John R. 1946-2025 Hilo, Hi.

HILO, Hi. – John R. “Skip” Blake, age 78, died at home in Hilo, Hawaii, on April 2, 2025. He was born on Aug. 5, 1946, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Buell E. Blake and Jeanne A. (Short) Blake.

Skip graduated from Platte Valley Grade School (1960), Central High School (1964), and UMKC School of Pharmacy (1970).

He married Gail M. Connoghton, also a pharmacist. Together they opened a pharmacy in Shady Cove, Oregon. They were married 37 years until Gail died of cancer in 2022. Skip then moved to Hilo.

Skip is survived by daughter, Hilary A. Newey, of St. Joseph; two grandchildren; brothers, Gary A. Blake and Brian G. Blake, of St. Joseph, and Kim D. Blake, of Honolulu, Hawaii.

Skip has been cremated. His ashes will be spread over the Pacific Ocean.

Memorials can be made to the Friends of the Animal Shelter, St. Joseph. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.