Kyle Brian Blake

Kyle Brian Blake, 29, died on Thursday, January 3, 2019 in an automobile accident west of Lusk.

Kyle was born on November 1, 1989 in Bozeman, Montana to Mark Allen Blake and Lee Ann Blake (Rowe). He grew up in Lander, Wyoming and graduated from Lander Valley High School in 2008 at the top of his class. He attended the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming on a full ride scholarship and graduated in 2011 with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology/Management. While in college, Kyle worked for the Wyoming Game and Fish as a Fisheries Technician and Aquatic Invasive Species Inspector in various parts of Wyoming. After college he moved to Kenai, Alaska to work for Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association as a Field Technician and later to Homer, Alaska as a Hatchery Technician raising sockeye salmon.

Kyle met the love of his life, Nicolette Freeman, in Laramie, Wyoming in 2012. They married on September 13, 2014 at Louis Lake Lodge in Lander, Wyoming. They began their married life together in Lusk, Wyoming where Kyle had accepted a job working for Wyoming Department of Corrections as a Senior Fish Culturist. On January 1, 2016, they welcomed their first child, Sadie McKinley Blake (3), and on August 1, 2017 their second, Barrett Allen Blake (15 months).

Kyle was a family man, a loving husband, and an even better father. He was intelligent, hardworking, adventurous, talented, and witty. He was a lover of all things outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, and wild animals. He was an avid football lover, and a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan. He knew everything there was to know about fish and kept several aquariums throughout his life raising various species of Cichlids. His favorite times were spent being a dad and husband, hunting and fishing, helping his father-in-law Robert Freeman on the family farm, going to rock concerts, woodworking in his garage, cooking, and gardening. Although his time on earth was short, he lived a full and happy life, and had many accomplishments.

Kyle is survived by his wife, Nicolette Blake (Freeman); daughter, Sadie Blake; son Barrett Blake of Lusk; parents, Mark Blake of Lander and Lee Blake of Lander, many grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and dear friends.

A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, January 12, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds in Lusk, Wyoming with a meal to follow.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kyle Blake Memorial Fund through Bank of the West, mailing address PO BOX 1236, Lusk, Wyoming 82225-1236 or donor’s choice.

The Lusk Herald, January 9, 2019
Two involved in fatal crash

On January 3, 2019 at approximately 6:13 p.m., a fatal crash occurred at milepost 38 on US 18/20 near Lusk. Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were dispatched to the area for a two-vehicle collision.

A 1999 Chevrolet truck was traveling west on US 18/20 when the vehicle crossed the center line and entered the eastbound lane colliding head-on with a 1997 Pontiac car.

The driver of the Pontiac has been identified as 29-year-old Lusk resident Kyle Blake. Blake who was wearing his seatbelt succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the crash.

The driver of the Chevrolet has been identified as 76-year-old Manville resident Ewart “Peewee” Johnson. Johnson was not wearing his seatbelt and succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the crash.

This is the second and third fatality on Wyoming’s highways in 2019 compared to 0 in 2018, 0 in 2017, and 1 in 2016 to date.

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