Blake M. Russell, 26 of Joy, died Saturday, May 25, 2024. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Friday, May 31, at Speer Funeral Home, Aledo. A private family burial will be in New Boston Cemetery. Visitation is from 3 to 7 p.m., Thursday, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to aid in the development of a new baseball field for Mercer County High School.
Blake Matthew was born on June 27, 1997, in Moline, Illinois, to Eric J. and Jennifer J. (Andress) Russell. He was a 2015 graduate of Mercer County High School where he excelled at football and baseball. He continued his baseball career at Carl Sandburg College.
Blake was an outgoing competitive young man who loved all sports. In his younger years he played for the Tri County Red Devils before excelling in sports at Mercer County. He enjoyed the camaraderie with his teammates. All animals loved Blake, but none more than his German Shepherd, Max. He was an avid gamer and enjoyed all music, especially Miley Cyrus.
Those left to cherish Blake’s memory include his parents, Eric and Jenny Russell; brother, Tyson Russell; and paternal grandparents, Denis (Anita) Russell and Peggy Larson. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends too numerous to list. Blake was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Parker and Sharon Andress, and a cousin, Evan Biddle.