Shirley F. Blair

Lowville - Shirley F. Blair, 84, of River Street, a former resident of Hayes Road East, Boonville, passed away on Tuesday, January 13, 2009, at Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown, after a long illness. She was born in Belfort (Town of Croghan) on November 20, 1924, to Earl and Margaret Yousey Mitchell. Shirley grew up in Croghan, receiving her education in Belfort, and graduated from Beaver Falls High School with the Class of 1942. During WWII she was employed at N.Y. Mills Knitting Mill and then at Beaver Rite Co. of Beaver Falls. On March 17, 1947, Shirley was united in marriage with William A. Blair, Sr., at the Beaver Falls Evangelical Church. The couple lived in Lowville before moving to their home on Hayes Road East near Hawkinsville, where they lived for fifty years. Mrs. Blair was employed as a nurse assistant at Vale Haven Adult Home in Boonville for fifteen years. Mr. Blair died on February 21, 1992. Shirley greatly savored her long-time active membership in the Boonville United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school for many years. She was an active member of the United Methodist Women and served for many years in the church foodstand at the Boonville Oneida County Fair. She also was greatly interested in politics, and was a member of Town of Boonville Republican Committee, the Harland J. Hennessey Post V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary, Boonville, and the Constableville Senior Citizens. Mrs. Blair is survived by four sons and two daughters-in-law, William A., Hinckley, Bruce W. and Mary, Madera Ranchos, CA, Barry M. and Connie, Whitney Point, NY, and Brent S., Utica; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Rebecca and Robert Cummings, Turin, Beth Blair, Oriskany, and Beatrice and Edward Waldron, Glenfield. She was predeceased by a son, Brad, in 1963 and by a daughter, Brenda, in 1959. Also surviving are seventeen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren; one brother and sister- in-law, Earl and Jean Yousey, Croghan; three sisters and one brother-in-law, Zita Wakefield, Lowville, Joyce and Stanley Mathys, Watson, and Betty Hoch, Lowville; and by two sisters-in-law, Beverly Yousey, Lowville, and Norma Yousey, Boonville. She was predeceased by two brothers, Jack and Edward Yousey. Her funeral will be Friday at 1:00 p.m. at the Boonville United Methodist Church, where Reverend William A. Mudge, pastor, will officiate. Interment will be in Boonville Cemetery. Calling hours are Thursday 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. at the Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., 143 Schuyler Street, Boonville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Boonville United Methodist Church.