Richard Carl Blake Jr., a beloved Hoopa Valley Tribal member and the Chief Judge of the Hoopa Valley Tribal Court, unexpectedly passed into the spirit world on April 27, 2026. He spent his last days surrounded by his loving family and treasured lifelong friends.

Richard was born in Hoopa on November 8, 1956, to Richard and Letitia Blake. He is survived by his wife, Kristen, daughters Haley and Harmani, and stepchildren Heather (Alvaro) Romero and Dustin Kelley and his siblings, sisters Cynthia (Bruce) Williamson, Terri (Rick) Rivera, and Dorothy (Mark) Fry, and cousin/sister Marion (Doug) Emmert. Richard’s nieces and nephews are Laney Ashley, Glenn (Hien) Thompson, Brian (Jill) Williamson, Tara (Kenny) Quinones, Brooke (Bryan) Benson, Tana Williamson, Jeanette Rivera, Tyler (Sarah) Fry, Bryan Guyer, Richard (Julia) Guyer, Brandon (Anika) Rivera, Shelly (Steven) Harrington, Jackson Rooms, and Jessie Rooms. He also has numerous great-nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends he called “cousins.” Richard never ended a meeting or call with his family members or others he loved without saying “I love you.”

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Richard Blake, Sr. and Letitia Jackson Guyer, brothers, Warren (Mokie) Blake and Edward (Eddie) Guyer, and stepfather, Edward Guyer.

Richard lived with his family first in Hoopa and then in Crescent City for the majority of his childhood. After his parents’ divorce when he was 16, Richard moved with his mother to Napa, where he completed high school and attended community college and ultimately culminated his education at University of Southern California (USC). This achievement began his love for his favorite college football team, The Trojans (Fight On).”

Richard began working at a young age. His working life started as a cashier at 7/11, which gave him the chance to develop the incredible “people skills” and emotional maturity for which he was known and admired. He also worked as a truck driver and probation officer. His dedication to whatever position he held and his willingness to tackle the toughest assignments lead to more and more responsibilities. Richard’s unique and varied work experiences, and his innate charisma provided him an exceptional point of view and understanding of human nature, which ultimately led to him being elected as the Chief Judge of the Hoopa Valley Tribe in 2002. Richard served as Chief Judge until 2018, and during that time he also served as the Chief Judge of the Redding Rancheria Tribal Court, and Appellate Judge for the Cow Creek Tribe in Southern Oregon.

Richard’s love of Tribal law and his dedication to his community motivated him to run again as Chief Judge of the Hoopa Valley Tribe. He was re-elected in 2022 and served in that position until his passing. During this time, he also served as the Chief Judge of the Redding Rancheria, developed and ran the Juvenile Healing to Wellness for Hoopa Valley, and served as Associate Judge for the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation’s Court.

Richard’s numerous accomplishments include President of the Board of the National American Indian Court Judges Association (NAICJA) and board member for 13 years, representing Region 2 (Tribal Courts in California, Nevada, and Hawaii). In 2016, Richard was the recipient of the NAICJA Judicial Excellence Award. Richard was one of the founding members of the Northern Tribal Court Coalition (NCTCC), which continues today to promote and strengthen Tribal Justice Systems. Richard was also appointed as Co-Chair of the California Tribal State Forum, and he sat as a member of California Federal-Tribal Forum. He was a member of the National Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) and was named as the 2016 “Innovator of the Year.” He also served as faculty for NCJFCJ in the areas of Domestic Violence and Domestic Sex Trafficking and was an invited speaker to numerous conferences where he spoke on the strength and utility of Tribal Courts to address the unmet needs of tribal communities around the United States and internationally.

To know Richard was to love him. He was a complex and enchanting mix of humor, humbleness, intelligence, and trickster, just to name some of his obvious characteristics. During Richard’s brief, but serious illness in the hospital, friends and family shared stories of how he helped, teased, embarrassed, inspired, or just loved them. We came to the realization Richard had the unique ability to make everyone call him their “best friend.” It was wonderful to hear and read how far-reaching Richard’s influence traveled throughout the United States and beyond.

Viewing: Friday, May 8, 2026, 10 a.m. -12 noon, at Gobles Funeral Home, 560 12th St, Fortuna.

Services: Saturday, May 9, 2026, 1 p.m. in Hoopa at The Neighborhood Facility

Burial: Jackson’s Cemetery on Pine Creek Rd and reception to follow at the Hoopa Trading Post.

Pallbearers:

Glenn Thompson
Tyler Fry
Brian Williamson
Bryan Guyer
Richard Guyer
Robert Lee
Brandon Lara
Robert Jackson
Jody Jackson
Loren Colegrove
Monty Nykoluk
Chance Carpenter
Dana Norton
Damon Cross

Honorary Pallbearers:

Bruce Williamson
Mark Fry
Rick Rivera
Doug Emmert
Glenn Thompson
Ken Quinones
Dr. George (Porty) Blake
Pliny (Jack) Jackson
Marion (Inker) McCovey
Ronald (Ronnie) Balabas
Shawn Balabas
Abraham Camez
Adam Robertson
Raymond McCovey
Marion (Buck) McCovey
Arthur Jones
Romeo McCovey
James McCovey
Robert Kane, Jr.
Russell Hurley
Marc (Bubba) Riggins
Timothy Miller
Judge Joseph Wiseman
Albert Jasso
Pat Callan
Dr. James (Jim) Bennie
Tyler Ward
Paul Siewell
Michael Hollowell