Just wanted to let our trapping family know that our friend Blake Box has past away.

Oh my. I'm so sorry to hear this. I wish that stubborn old guy would have gone to the hospital sooner. I'm sure going to miss him on here. Rest in peace my friend.

He sure will be a hard one to forget. Be at rest Bullet

Oh such sad news, the guy was a fine man, hope he has his rewards laid out for him, and enjoys his return,,Gods Speed my friend!!!

I received this email from Don Hightower and thought it was a good thing to share.

**Blake was truly an original person,

not another like him anywhere.
An educator, rancher and trapper who was no
stranger to adversity, he gave those of us who knew
him well encouragement by the way he handled the
problems he encountered during his life. He loved his
family dearly, as well as children, and introduced many
young folks to the enjoyment of hunting and trapping.
A longtime member of TTFHA, his contributions to
our organization were many. He was also well known
on Trapperman as “Bullet” Box. Goodbye, friend; May
you rest in the peace of God our father joined by your
dear mother and the family and friends who have left
this earth before you!**
Don Hightower, on behalf of the officers, directors and
members of the Texas Trappers and Fur Hunters
Association

I looked forward to Blake posting his Christmas Story every year at Christmas time.

https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/7090556/a-christmas-story#Post7090556

This is what Christmas is all about...

Better bundle up - the goose bumps will freeze you!! I think I need to read this every year at Christmas.

Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.

It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.

After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight." I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what..

Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here, help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high side boards on.

After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood - the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?" You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what?

Yeah," I said, "Why?"

"I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt." That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his r ight shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. "What's in the little sack?" I asked. Shoes, they're out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."

We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn't have been our concern.

We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?" "Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?"

Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.

"We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children - sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say
something, but it wouldn't come out.

"We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up." I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as mu ch as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak.

My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before, filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.

I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us."

In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.

Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.

Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.

At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away.

Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will."
Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that,but on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand."

I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children.

For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, to you and yours...


Keith

He will be missed by many. Hope Sara finds him at the rainbow bridge.

Dang that really sucks.

Rest easy Blake.

Rest in Peace my friend

RIP Mr. Box

Prayers for the friends and family.

Shucks, so sad to hear rest in peace my friend. Will trade stories later when we meet at the campfire in the sky.

Prayers for loved ones.

R.I.P. Bulletbox

Sad news indeed. Met him for the first time at the SE Regional in Arkadelphia Ark. What a character he was.
Prayers for his family.

Prayers are in the wind from East Texas!

Good bye my friend, I know you are in a better place with those you love, this is a wake-up call how fragile our life is. Thanks for all of our visits we had when we were at the same place. May God give peace and comfort to your family.

Cletis

RIP Bullet

RIP Blake. You will be missed sir.

RIP BB.

Shocked....
I figured this ol son of gun could woop about anything.


Jesus must a needed one more Real Texan in Heaven

Sad sad news. RIP BB.

Prayers out to the family

I love you buddy!!!! I will miss you and only you will know how much. This is darn hard to speak about. We had many a good time in bow season and during turkey season. I will never forget the memories we made watching football, the final four and seeing who could cook the worst pot of beans.
Folks, yall have no idea that Blake and I talked almost every night. We live 7 hours apart but we rarely every missed a night calling one another. We played countless pranks on each other and some, As Mr. Sammy knows were just darn funny. I have no words to utter that will explain what you meant to me. you were a light at the end of a very dark tunnel for many years. I came out of that deep, dark sadness and you did too .


i love you my friend and I will look forward to our reunion.


Dave Campbell

Terrible news. My condolences to all his many friends and family.

Godspeed Sir.

Really hate to hear this, he always offered me one of his momma's praline's, lol. Funny the stuff you recall when someone pass's. You will be missed ol buddy.

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will establish Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen 2 Peter 5:10

Blake,
Our Hope is that because of the Blood of the Lamb, we'll see you in the morning friend and faithful brother, in a new body upon a New Earth.

Mark & Donna

He was partial to yellow handled Case pocket knives....Yep the odd thing we remember. Rest Easy Blake

Go rest high on that mountain Bullet Box ! Prayers for his close family and friends I also looked forward to reading the Christmas Story each year that's been a long running post for as long as I can remember and I survived a crash or two on here ha ha .
Allan

My condolences to Blake's family. May God's peace be upon you as you walk through this time of grief.
R.I.P. Bulletbox

Eternal best wishes for you Bullet Box in the great beyond! May God wrap his arms around you and welcome you home.

Chris

Very sad news. Rip Blake!!!

prayers sent , may he rest in peace ,

Rest in Peace Blake

He was a kind man and one I will never forget

Dang ! That is some lousy news !!

I never met him but was always proud of his accomplishments regarding sobriety !

God Bless him and his friends and family.

I read about a lot of folks that pass away from this life. To be honest, not too many of them get me all misty eyed and choked up. Had to wipe my eyes to see what I was writing here. RIP Blake

I knew him going on 20 years, met him on here and been friends ever since. Shared many an email, and private messages. Met him only once at the NTA in Hutchinson KS, was sur enice to meet him in the flesh and sit and jaw with him.


He will be sorely missed.

Mike

Sorry to hear this... Happy trails Blake.

Rest in peace, Blake. Tearful prayers sent, for those who mourn.




Charlie

RIP sir. Our paths never crossed here on earth, but look forward to a rondy wiith you and the Lord! Prayers for all that knew him well!

May God bless you're family. You will be missed! Back in the early years bulletbox posted quite often he shared hundreds of bobcat pictures. I was excited to finally meet him in Hutchinson ks.. hotter than hades that year..

Paul is there anyway that two of bulletbox stories can be archived and post them as.bullet always did? He never missed post his "where you 911 story." And then his Christmas story . I always looked forward to those post..they are a powerful reminder of true humanity. The story was word for word every time but I like many others here read it word for word each year. I will also PM Paul with this request.

Rest in peace bulletbox May your wisdom and contribution to this site live on.
Till we meet again........Ark trapper

How old was he ?

He was 63 years young!

May he rest in peace, I always looked forward to his Christmas story and I want to thank KeithC for posting it. I hope he does it again at Christmas time as I liked to forward that to family and friends.

I'm very sorry to hear of his passing

For years I always enjoyed his posts here on T man, although we never met he was still a part of my family here.
Gld bless his family & friends for their loss.

He is home now.

Jesus wept (John 11:35).
The shortest verse in the Bible describes the greatest shower to ever fall upon the earth. A waterfall of mercy and grace for all who You know immeasurably!
You knew Lazarus would breathe and walk again and yet you wept full-heartedly.
Those who witnessed You that day saw Your sacred fury and Your great sadness, and said; See how He loved him! (John 11:36).

Jesus, we’re so glad you are such a tenderhearted Savior. We grieve the death of a very dear friend, Blake who You knew before time. Thank you for the sincere invitation to; “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). No one hates death more than you and no one grieves death’s ugly violation more deeply.
No one is more looking forward to the day of “no more death” (Rev. 21:4) than You.
And no one has done more to put death to death for our sake and for our salvation.
Thank you is simply all we can muster right now.

Today we rest our broken hearts on your shoulder, with the peace and comfort that comes from knowing You as “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25), and because of Your resurrection, we sing in advance of our resurrection, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55).
We praise, bless, and honor You, as we rest our hearts in Your loving hands.
Amen we pray, in your Mighty name.

And we'll joyously await seeing brother Blake in that morning to come upon the New Earth.

Blake was a friend, unique as they come. He always had an inviting grin when he saw a friend heading his way. He and his mother would produce some of the best Texas Pralines you ever tasted. A dozen of those sold for outrageous prices during out TTFHA auctions. I'll never forget how Blake would walk up to me with a " I am up to something grin" , he then would sneak a praline into my hand and give an even bigger grin. He had a heart big as Texas and was always proud to wear his TTFHA shirt.

" Our Last Breath on Earth is Followed by our First Breath in Heaven "

So sad to read this news. R.I.P. Prayers sent up for his family and friends.

Hate hearing this. Good man.

One memory I’ll never forget about Blake’s kindness and the way he could encourage people and move them was the first time I ever did a demo on coyotes I’m not a good public speaker,

It was in Tx I was very nervous I choked up a good bit lost my train of thought

Blake came up to me after and told me he thought I did great offers me a few ideas about public speaking and encouraged me to keep doing them I as Keats looked forward to seeing him I still do demos and I remember what He told me he was a good example of a humble honest and kind Christian man I’ll not forget him if this world had slot more of His type we would be doing very well

Sad news indeed. One of the first fellas I ever chatted with here on T-man.

Sad news to log on after long absence and read this news.