Marlene Phyllis Blair was born in Chicago, IL to Opal Estelle (Hindman) Blair Matcham and Earl Joseph Blair on June 10, 1932. The family moved to Pekin, IL where Marlene went to Pekin Community High School, graduating in 1950. In high school she was active in several organizations including those centering around art, dance, music, and drama. She studied dance independently throughout her youth. Her Senior Class photo was labeled "She draws your heart" and she did.
After high school, she went to work for Caterpillar in Peoria, IL where she met and later married Don Bishop on February 14, 1953, in Peoria. Together Don and Marlene traveled throughout the United States, sometimes accompanied by their mothers, Edna and Opal. Marlene continued her love of dancing and singing, joining and performing with a quartet and appearing in many of Caterpillar's stage and musical productions. She was an avid golfer and won several trophies. She also sailed with Don on the boat he named "Marty". She loved beautiful and elegant things and she and Don created gracious homes and gardens which were still "kid-friendly" although they had no children, except for one stuck-up little Pomeranian named Tippy, that is. Marlene was a very good cook and they liked to entertain their many friends and family. Because Don was very artistic too, their Christmas packages and decorations were an extravaganza.
Sadly, Marlene and Don divorced but Marlene continued to travel and enjoy her friends and family. She bought a bungalow with a large garden in Peoria where she eventually lived with her sister, Shirley, and her mother. She also bought an investment home in Florida. She got a Sheltie named Diamond and bonded with him as she had with Tippy. She loved all animals, domestic or wild, and they loved her right back. Her tamed squirrel broke up more than one peaceful porch party. Kids and young adults gravitated to her too just as animals did. She was definitely the "fun one" and also the very understanding and generous one. Her nieces Marlene, Sharon, Barbara, Laurie, and Rhonda as well as her nephews Terry, Tom, and Greg all adored her. She was a generous, loving, and caring daughter to Opal and an equally generous, loving, and caring sister to Venice and Shirley. She had several life-long friends and made new ones wherever she went.
Later she married Dan after they moved to her home in Florida. However, she returned to the Midwest frequently to enjoy the "seasons" that Florida doesn't offer and to escape Florida's heat and humidity which she hated. She certainly didn't want to be buried there, but she ran out of time. Marty especially loved the annual autumn Spoon River Drive in Illinois and the beautiful springtimes there. But friends and family did visit her often in Florida where she entertained and pampered them in her usual gracious style. What we'll all miss the most is her utter femininity, her sweetness, her silliness, and her all-around good humor, making the best of virtually anything. She will forever "draw our hearts".
Marlene Phyllis Blair was born in Chicago, IL to Opal Estelle (Hindman) Blair Matcham and Earl Joseph Blair on June 10, 1932. The family moved to Pekin, IL where Marlene went to Pekin Community High School, graduating in 1950. In high school she was active in several organizations including those centering around art, dance, music, and drama. She studied dance independently throughout her youth. Her Senior Class photo was labeled "She draws your heart" and she did.
After high school, she went to work for Caterpillar in Peoria, IL where she met and later married Don Bishop on February 14, 1953, in Peoria. Together Don and Marlene traveled throughout the United States, sometimes accompanied by their mothers, Edna and Opal. Marlene continued her love of dancing and singing, joining and performing with a quartet and appearing in many of Caterpillar's stage and musical productions. She was an avid golfer and won several trophies. She also sailed with Don on the boat he named "Marty". She loved beautiful and elegant things and she and Don created gracious homes and gardens which were still "kid-friendly" although they had no children, except for one stuck-up little Pomeranian named Tippy, that is. Marlene was a very good cook and they liked to entertain their many friends and family. Because Don was very artistic too, their Christmas packages and decorations were an extravaganza.
Sadly, Marlene and Don divorced but Marlene continued to travel and enjoy her friends and family. She bought a bungalow with a large garden in Peoria where she eventually lived with her sister, Shirley, and her mother. She also bought an investment home in Florida. She got a Sheltie named Diamond and bonded with him as she had with Tippy. She loved all animals, domestic or wild, and they loved her right back. Her tamed squirrel broke up more than one peaceful porch party. Kids and young adults gravitated to her too just as animals did. She was definitely the "fun one" and also the very understanding and generous one. Her nieces Marlene, Sharon, Barbara, Laurie, and Rhonda as well as her nephews Terry, Tom, and Greg all adored her. She was a generous, loving, and caring daughter to Opal and an equally generous, loving, and caring sister to Venice and Shirley. She had several life-long friends and made new ones wherever she went.
Later she married Dan after they moved to her home in Florida. However, she returned to the Midwest frequently to enjoy the "seasons" that Florida doesn't offer and to escape Florida's heat and humidity which she hated. She certainly didn't want to be buried there, but she ran out of time. Marty especially loved the annual autumn Spoon River Drive in Illinois and the beautiful springtimes there. But friends and family did visit her often in Florida where she entertained and pampered them in her usual gracious style. What we'll all miss the most is her utter femininity, her sweetness, her silliness, and her all-around good humor, making the best of virtually anything. She will forever "draw our hearts".
