James “Jim” E. Blair Jr.
James (Jim) E. Blair Jr.,73, Monroe City, Mo., passed away at 2:20 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, surrounded by his family at his home in Monroe City.
James “Jim” E. Blair Jr.
Jim was born Aug. 10, 1947, in Jackson, Mich., to James E. Blair Sr. and Ruth (Jenny) Murphy Blair. Jim was married to Christina Lake on Dec. 23, 1972, at the United Methodist Church in Monroe City. She survives.
Other survivors include his children, James E. Blair III, and Tina (Tim) Powers; extended family, Howard Lake, Junior (Linda) Lake, Tonya Lake, Teresa (Dennis) Brown, Dot Lake, Liz (Mike) Donath, Cecelia (Rick) Obert, Jenny (Ron) Bemis, Joe (Melissa) Lake, and Stacey Lake; grandchildren, Sergeant Sawyer J. Powers USMC, and Hannah (Thad Ferguson) Powers, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his grandparents; parents; mother-in-law, Carmen Lake; nephew, James V. Lake; niece, Lisa Parshall; nephew, Ben Hirner; and uncle, Kenny Murphy.
Jim served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War.
Professionally Jim was a semi truck driver both locally and over the road. He was also a heavy equipment operator, helping to build the Landing and the Mark Twain Lake Cannon Dam during his career.
He enjoyed “playing around on the backhoe,” “his girls,” which was a pet name he gave his cows, and above all, spending time with his grandchildren and family.
Jim attended Holy Rosary Church in Monroe City.
James “Jim” E. Blair Jr.
A funeral service with full military honors performed by American Legion Post #174 Boots-Dickson will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 17, at Lewis Brothers Funeral Chapel in Palmyra, Mo. Dot Lake will officiate. Burial will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Palmyra.
Friends and family are invited to Jim’s life celebration at a visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday, Dec. 17, at Lewis Brothers Funeral Chapel.
Pallbearers will be Thad Ferguson, David Willis, Sawyer Powers, Tim Powers, Rick Obert and David Hastings.
Honorary pallbearers will be Ronnie McElroy, Steve Hughes, Sonny Dowell, Bob Hufford Sr., Dave Stump, Hannah Powers, Tony Mayer, Jamie E. Blair III and Bill Ragon.
Memorias may be made to the family or Community Loving Care Hospice.
Online condolences may be shared and video tribute viewed at www.lewisbrothersfuneralchapel.com.
