John Blake Freeman

John Blake Freeman, 64, passed away peacefully after a courageous multi‑year battle with colon cancer. Born on Tachikawa Air Base near Tokyo, Japan, Blake grew up in a military family and graduated from Morrisville High School in Pennsylvania.

Blake married the love of his life, Terri, in Del Rio, TX shortly after graduating high school, and shared almost 46 years of unwavering love and partnership. With only a high school diploma and an unmatched work ethic, Blake forged a long-lasting career in the oil field services industry. Beginning in 1980, he quickly became a natural salesman and trusted leader. Since 2007, he led the Bulldog Tool Company's team in the Permian Basin and helped found Bulldog Jar Company, steering the subsidiary from start‑up to multimillion‑dollar success while earning deep respect from colleagues and customers before retiring in 2025. Of all his roles, he loved being "Pod" to his four grandchildren the most; he rarely missed an opportunity to see them for a celebration, ballet recital, or to have a fun sleepover.

Away from work, Blake's greatest passions were University of Texas Longhorn sports, bowling, live music, and giving to those in need. Fall Saturdays often found him in burnt orange gear, cheering for the Horns. From leagues to tournaments, throughout his life he enjoyed spending time at the bowling alley. Blake also loved attending concerts and would routinely buy extra seats so he could invite friends or family to enjoy the show. He and Terri gave consistently to a range of nonprofits each year, most recently championing Odessa Christian School. In his later years, Blake developed a fun hobby of buying, and often giving away, winning lottery scratch‑offs, just to light up someone else's day. Blake's kindness extended to four-legged friends as well; he routinely adopted shelter pets and took in stray cats as members of the family.

While regretting not having done his own health screenings, Blake never missed an opportunity to encourage friends and strangers alike to schedule their regular screenings to detect this preventable cancer as soon as possible.

Blake is preceded in death by his father, Tillman Curtis "T.C." Freeman; his mother, Shirley Jane Hackett; sister, Gwynn White, and father-in-law, Ben Woodson. He is survived by his devoted wife, Terri Freeman; daughter, Tylene Freeman; son, Andrew Freeman and daughter‑in‑law Jessica Freeman; and four treasured grandchildren, Jack, Elsie, Mikey, and Nick, who will forever remember their Pod's love for each of them. He is also survived by his extended family of mother-in-law, Shirley Woodson; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Garrett and Kay Boyd; mother-in-law, Karen Freeman; brothers-in-law, Chip Boyd, Buck Woodson, Lance Woodson, and Wayland Boyd; sisters-in-law, Tamara Schrader, Sharlee Mahoney, and Lauri Wysocki along with many nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held on May 27, 2025 from 4-8pm. with a funeral service on May 28, 2025 at 1pm. Both will take place at Mayberry Funeral Home located at 406 E Illinois Ave, Midland, TX 79701.

In lieu of flowers, Blake requested that donations be made to Gifts of Hope in Midland, Texas, which supports cancer patients and their loved ones during treatment.