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- Illah Jean Blair, 86 of Vancouver, WA, passed away March 4, 2010 at her home. Phil, her husband for 65 years, was by her side. She was born on June 20, 1923 in Mindota, MO to Loren and Nina Myers. When Jean was a year old, her family moved to Shreveport, LA where she grew up. She was the youngest of four children: two sisters, LaVon and Foncine and a brother, Junior. While in school, she enjoyed playing the flute and won second place in the state competition.
Jean met Phil, a young Army Air Corps pilot, stationed at Barksdale Army Air Base, who she subsequently married on August 23, 1944. They moved to Vancouver with their newborn son, Steve, October 1945. A year after arriving in Vancouver their second son, Don, was born. While Steve and Don were growing up, Jean devoted herself to homemaking. Sixteen years after Steve was born, Jean and Phil's third son, Joe, was born.
While her boys were growing up, she taught Sunday school, was Cub Scout den mother, room mother and participated in the PTA. We all enjoyed Mom's cooking. Don, with the help of other family members, compiled a book of Mom's recipes, titled "Illah Jeans Kitchen", in which each family member included an anecdote about Mom along with her recipe for their favorite food.
Jean's favorite activities were bowling, Scrabble, dominoes, cards and socializing with friends and family. She and Phil traveled extensively, frequently bragging about being able to fly for free because of passes provided by Steve who was an airline pilot. Mom was very proud of all of her boys. Don provided free dental care and Joe, who runs an air conditioning and refrigeration business in Vancouver, was always available for projects around the house.
Jean is survived by her husband, Phil; her three sons and daughters-in-law, Steve and Barbara Jo, Don and Kathleen Bemis Blair, and Joe and Lynn; and grandchildren, Angela Haviland, Matt Blair, Wendy Blair, Jason Blair, Roxanne Blair, Kyra Blair, Kellen Blair, Jill Blair and Brendan Blair; and great-grandchildren, Grant McClellan, Nathan Haviland and Mike Haviland.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Nina and Loren; and her three siblings, Junior, LaVon, and Foncine.
We would like to thank Jean's friends and neighbors for their support. And a special thanks to her care givers: Lydia, Diana, Nijole, Julia and Gayle and Hospice Southwest.
A memorial service will be held Sat., March 6 at 1:00 p.m. at Columbia Presbyterian Church, 805 SE Columbia Ridge Dr., Vancouver, WA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association at P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.
Published in The Columbian on March 5, 2010
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1923 - 2019 (95 years)
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