Honoring a Life of Service Through Compassionate Hospice Care

When Byron “Barney” Blake, MD, entered Mount Carmel Hospice, he did so after a lifetime of caring for others. A beloved family physician in Grove City, Dr. Blake built a meaningful career serving his community, overcoming a difficult childhood to create a beautiful life with his wife, Shirley, and their family. Shirley, a nurse, worked alongside him for many years, helping manage his practice and supporting the patients he cared for so deeply.

Nothing prepares you for the final days of someone you love. Shirley and her family spent nearly every day with Dr. Blake as he transitioned from palliative care to hospice at Mount Carmel East. She remembers how grateful she felt that he was able to remain there, surrounded by compassionate caregivers, instead of being discharged to a nursing home as originally planned.

The care Dr. Blake received left a lasting impact on Shirley — one she has chosen to pay forward. For the past decade, she has been a generous supporter of Mount Carmel Hospice, ensuring that other families can experience the same comfort, dignity, and peace her husband was given. She also made a gift to Mount Carmel Grove City, where Dr. Blake served on the medical staff.

Today, the devotion room near the Grove City chapel bears Dr. Blake’s name — a permanent tribute to his remarkable life of service and the love he shared with his community.

Shirley’s generosity helps ensure that every patient and family who turns to Mount Carmel Hospice receives the compassionate care they deserve. Her gifts honor her husband’s legacy while extending comfort and hope to others during life’s most tender moments.

Your support can help provide this same extraordinary care to families when they need it most.