Blake Livingston, 91, passed away peacefully in his sleep on the 4th of December 2013. He was born in Pollard’s Bend, Cherokee County, Ala., raised his family in Oneonta, Ala. and retired to the family farm in Cedar Bluff, Ala.
He graduated from Cherokee County High School and Alabama Polytechnic Institute in Auburn, Ala. His education was interrupted by WWII. He married Therese in 1946, and returned to Auburn completing a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 1948.
During WWII, he crossed Europe with General Patton’s 3rd Army, 65th Division, Headquarters Battery, 868th Field Artillery Battalion. He was in the European Theater January 1945 through April 1946. He left the military with the rank of Technician Fourth Grade Sergeant, thankful to return home.
As a civil engineer Blake’s work was building roads and bridges. In 1951, he was the youngest County Engineer in Alabama, first serving Cherokee County, then Blount County, next working with Burgess and Mitchell Construction Company, then returning to public service in St. Clair County and Cherokee County before retiring.
Blake was an establishing member of NACE, the National Association of County Engineers. Later he served as president of the Alabama Association of County Engineers and the National Association of County Engineers.
Blake worked with the Alabama Retirees Association, serving as a board member. He was especially proud of efforts that allowed county employees to participate in the state retirement system.
He served on numerous public building authority committees, bringing hospitals and airports to Alabama.
He was a deacon at the First Baptist Churches of Oneonta and Cedar Bluff.
He is survived by his brother, Jack (Sue) Livingston; his children, Gunter (Anne) Livingston, LaHayne Livingston and LuAnn (Ron) Smith; grandchildren, Matthew (Chris) Livingston, Gina (Kevin) Young, Luke (Rebecca) Smith and Speer Collins; great-grandchildren, Keira Young, Connor Blake Young and Olivia Livingston; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Therese Gunter Livingston; his parents, Speer and Haynie Harton Livingston; brother, John Livingston; in-laws, Virginia Livingston, Ann Livingston, Dick and Elowayne Guyton, J.W. and LaRue Formby;and great-grandchild, Aubrey Livingston.
Our family wishes to thank his Cedar Bluff church family for the love and support they have shown him. We wish to thank Dr. Brian Perry for taking great care of Daddy.
Visitation will be at 9:00 am Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at the Cedar Bluff First Baptist Church. Funeral service officiated by Rev. Mark Cosby will be at 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, the family request contributions to the Cedar Bluff First Baptist Church, 3500 Old Highway 9, Cedar Bluff, AL 35959.
Perry Funeral Home directing.