Blaise Black, 25

Blaise P. Black, 25, of Meridian, formerly of Elmore and Owyhee counties, died Friday, July 7, 2006.

Funeral mass was held Tuesday, July 11, at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Boise. Burial followed at Bruneau Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Summers Funeral Homes, Ustick Chapel.

Blaise Patrick Black was born Nov. 21, 1980, in Mountain Home. He grew up in the rural areas in Owyhee and Elmore counties, helping his family to raise cattle and hay. He learned to rope and ride at a very young age, creating a love for rodeo and the cowboy way of life that he carried on throughout his life.

Blaise rodeoed in high school, earning his way to the National High School Rodeo Finals, and continued the sport on to college, amateur, and professional ranks, winning many titles and friends along the way. Through rodeo, he enjoyed the close companionship of his family, traveling and competing with them.

Blaise and his father roped together for a year-end championship and many other titles. The greatest achievement of Blaise's rodeo career was meeting his future wife at the Pendleton Round-Up.

He married Lindsay Barker, the love of his life, on April 22, 2006. The joy Lindsay brought to Blaise was obvious to all who knew him, his family said.

Blaise was a jack-of-all trades, who was always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed him, they added. He was an integral part in building several of his father's successful businesses, and could perform in any capacity he was needed. "Whether in the hay field or in the arena, Blaise did his best at everything he tried."

Throughout his life, he kept many things a priority but family, faith and rodeo were always at the top of the list, his family noted. "Blaise was never happier than these past few months, working side-by-side with his father, keeping his close bond with his mother and sisters by living near his family, riding his horses, and coming home to a loving wife every day."

Blaise is survived b:y his wife, Lindsay Lee Black of Meridian; his parents, Rob and Mikal Black of Meridian; his sisters, Lindsay Marie and Marissa Black of Meridian; paternal grandparents Joe and Margaret Black, of Hammett; maternal grandparents Tom and Gloria Heggen; parents-in-law, Bruce and Sue Barker of Newburg, Ore.; brother-in-law Chad Barker, and sister-in-law, Danielle Barker of Newburg.

Contributions in Blaise's name can be made to: Idaho Cowboys Association Cowboy Crisis Fund, P.O. Box 47 Hammett, ID 83627, or Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17274, Baltimore, MD 21298-8455.