Blake's Story

The Barclay family are transplants to West Texas, moving from Fort Worth to Big Spring in 2008. We were blessed to have found a more quiet and slow paced town to raise our son Blake. He sailed through his primary education, made friends wherever he went and enjoyed life with passion and purpose.

Blake’s love for architecture began to develop and grow in junior high school and he aspired to become an architect at the age of 13.

His artistic and creative abilities were easy to recognize early in his life (#LEGOS). He excitedly began college as a member of the Honors College at Texas Tech University in the fall of 2023.

After achieving a 4.0 grade point average in the Honors program and much hard work, he was ecstatic to be formally accepted into the highly competitive program at the Huckabee College of Architecture in June 2024.

Blake was a sophomore at Texas Tech studying architecture. He had a quiet ambition and the kind of curiosity that made you believe he’d leave a mark on the world.

On July 7, 2024 our world was turned upside down when we were given the news of his sudden death due to epilepsy related complications.

When we lost him, we learned something painful - that grief can feel very isolating, especially when the world moves on and you’re still standing still.

Blake's Box grew from that loss.

Our Story

Blake was a student at Texas Tech University with a bright future and a heart that impacted everyone around him. After his passing, we experienced firsthand the profound grief that follows the loss of a child - and how even small gestures of care can bring light into unimaginable darkness.

Blake’s Box was created in his memory to extend that same compassion to other families walking this difficult path. It’s our way of making sure no Texas Tech family has to feel forgotten in the aftermath of something so devastating. Every box that goes out carries a piece of Blake’s memory with it - and honors the student whose name is on the letter. These fallen Red Raiders may be gone, but they will never be forgotten.

What is Blake's Box?

Each family who loses a student at Texas Tech University receives three things:

A personalized letter

Written with care, acknowledging their child by name and recognizing the life that was lived.

A keepsake box

A small, tangible reminder that their son or daughter mattered, and that strangers took the time to say so.

A remembrance blanket

To bring warmth on difficult days and intermittent quiet moments.

Every detail is intentional.
Every box is sent with love.

There is no cost to the family. There is no form to fill out. Someone who cared enough to reach out did that for them.

Blake worked part-time at the Crumbl Cookie store in Lubbock, a place where his eye for detail and his quiet, steady kindness fit naturally. Whether he was perfecting a swirl of frosting or making sure a customer felt seen, he brought care to every small task.

In honor of Blake, Crumbl of Lubbock generously donates a gift card for each Blake's Box. We include it as a simple reminder of the joy and warmth he shared with others.