Blake Flay Honeycutt, 92, of Hickory, passed away Saturday, March 5, 2022 at his residence. Born October 16, 1929 in Catawba County, he was the son of the late Grover G. Honeycutt and Josie Kenworthy Honeycutt. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Mattie Reeves Honeycutt, brother, Bobby Mal Honeycutt, and sister, Doris Julia Russ. Blake attended Catawba County Schools, Hickory High School and Lenoir Rhyne University. On June 5, 1948, he and Mattie were married at Viewmont Baptist Church, where he later became an ordained Deacon. He was owner and operator of Electrical Services Inc. from 1954 to 1984, owner and operator of Marine Sales Reps from 1968 to 1988, co-founded the world famous “Hummingbird” fish finders, served in the National Guard, was inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in 2013 and was a member of the Hickory Jaycees, Viewmont Optimist Casual, B.A.S.S. Casters, and the Bass Research Foundation. Blake had a lifelong passion for the sport of bass fishing. He set a world record catch in 1979 which has not been broken to this day. He and Mattie fished from upstate New York to south Florida to Texas, making many lifelong friends along the way. Their favorite place to fish was in Lake Novillo in Mexico, a pristine undeveloped lake where friends would annually camp out. The closest village was 20 miles away so they had no communication with the outside world during these trips. He also enjoyed building and flying radio controlled model planes and even becoming a novice full scale pilot. Those left to cherish his memory are his three sons; Rhodney Neil Honeycutt (Sharon) of Morganton, Douglas Lee Honeycutt of Hickory , and Bradley Flay Honeycutt (Cynthia) of Hickory, daughter, DeDe Ellen Honeycutt Eckhoff (H.D. Wallace) of Hickory, sister, Peggy Jo Honeycutt of Wilkesboro; grandchildren, Jason Flay Honeycutt (Rebecca), Jonathan Neil Honeycutt ( Lindsey), Lanie Joe Honeycutt (Nick Byrd), Emily Honeycutt Davis (Adam), Douglas Lee Honeycutt, Jr. (Shauna Whitener), Kristine Nicole Honeycutt, Madeline Morgan Honeycutt, Reeves Flay Honeycutt, Hunter Todd Eckhoff, Chase Alexander Eckhoff (Taylor Killian), Blake James Eckhoff (Katrina Abernethy); great-grandchildren, Mikala Honeycutt, Ethan Honeycutt, Everleigh Honeycutt, Averi Honeycutt, Edison Honeycutt, Birdie Honeycutt, and Silas Eckhoff. A private graveside service will be held at a later date. Blake will lie in state from 3:00- 6:00 Pm, Thursday, March 10th, 2022, at Bass-Smith Funeral Home for anyone to come by and pay their respects. Memorials may be sent to Melanoma Research Foundation, PO Box 719329, Philadelphia, PA 19171-9329. Bass-Smith Funeral Home is serving the Honeycutt family.