Added February 22, 2022
Bernice Hill Blair went home to be with Jesus on Monday morning, February 7, 2022. She was 98 years old.
Reva Bernice Hill was born on November 12, 1923, in Mansfield, AR, to Harry and Eva Hill. Bernice or "Bernie" was an excellent student graduating as Valedictorian of her class.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Bernie went to work as a typist at Camp Chaffee and quickly rose through the ranks becoming the Executive Secretary to the Commanding General at what would become Fort Chaffee.
After the war, Bernie me a young Navy veteran named Bill Blair at a Sunday evening youth church social. They were married on November 8, 1946. Bill and Bernie began their lives together in Okmulgee and then Stillwater as Bill entered college at Oklahoma A & M. Their first two sons, David Keith and Stephen Kent, were born while living in Stillwater. Upon graduation, Bill's career as an architectural engineer landed him a job at the university where the family moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia overseeing several joint projects led by Oklahoma A & M. After returning to the states, Bill and Bernie moved to Edmond in 1959 with Bill taking a job at the Benham Companies which eventually became Benham-Blair and Affiliates. Bernie loved education and while being a full-time homemaker and mother, accumulated 90 hours toward a Business Degree at Central State College in Edmond. In 1963, Bill and Bernie had their third and final son, Paul Kevin.
Bill and Bernie were faithful in their love for Jesus and served at First Baptist Church of Edmond (159), were part of the founding familes of the mission startup Henderson Hills Baptist (1966) and in 1969 Bill was named pastor of Fairview Community Church Bernie was a faithful member of Fairview from 1969 until her graduation to heaven this week.
In 1978, Bernie's best friend and sister "Lucy" moved to Edmond with her husband after retirement. Bernie and Lucy were fixtures together talking every night by phone, going to church together, grocery shopping together and faithfully attacking every Red Apple Sale at Foleys.
In 1999, Bill suffered a severe stroke but survived. Bernie cared for her beloved husband in their home for almost three years before Bill's passing in 2001. They enjoyed 54 years of marriage together on this earth before being reunited this week in heaven.
Nani and Papa, as they came to be known, adored their eight grandchildren; Nicole Leigh, Jason David, Kimberly Dawn, Lyndsey Michelle, Kyle Stephen, Matthew Keith, Joshua Paul and Jacob Andrew. At the time of her passing, Bernie also enjoyed hold all eleven of her great grandchildren.
Bernie Blair was preceded in death by her husband Bill, parents Harry Hill and Eva Koch, stepfather Buck Koch and her brothers Elba and Edwin.
She is survived by sons David (and wife Debbie) of Edmond; Steve (and wife Debi) of Guthrie, Paul (and wife Cindy) of Edmond, sister Hazel "Lucy" Ruskowski of Edmond, nephew James Walter Ruskowski of Edmond; nieces Jane Garret of Houston and Judy Ruof of Houston; eight grandchildren; Nicole Blair (and Brandon Dyer), Jason (and wife Lori) Blair, Kimberly Blair, Lyndsey Beck, Kyle (and wife Kristin) Blair, Matt (and wife Chelsea) Blair, Josh (and wife Brooke) Blair Jacob (and wife MacKensie) Blair and eleven great grandchildren: Hannah Blair, Averi Beck, Abby Blair, Ashlynn Beck, Elizabeth Blair, Lillian Blair, Landon Blair, Noah Beck, Beau Blair, William Blair and Roman Blair.
Contributor: Deborah Blair (47090463)
Bernice Hill Blair went home to be with Jesus on Monday morning, February 7, 2022. She was 98 years old.
Reva Bernice Hill was born on November 12, 1923, in Mansfield, AR, to Harry and Eva Hill. Bernice or "Bernie" was an excellent student graduating as Valedictorian of her class.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Bernie went to work as a typist at Camp Chaffee and quickly rose through the ranks becoming the Executive Secretary to the Commanding General at what would become Fort Chaffee.
After the war, Bernie me a young Navy veteran named Bill Blair at a Sunday evening youth church social. They were married on November 8, 1946. Bill and Bernie began their lives together in Okmulgee and then Stillwater as Bill entered college at Oklahoma A & M. Their first two sons, David Keith and Stephen Kent, were born while living in Stillwater. Upon graduation, Bill's career as an architectural engineer landed him a job at the university where the family moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia overseeing several joint projects led by Oklahoma A & M. After returning to the states, Bill and Bernie moved to Edmond in 1959 with Bill taking a job at the Benham Companies which eventually became Benham-Blair and Affiliates. Bernie loved education and while being a full-time homemaker and mother, accumulated 90 hours toward a Business Degree at Central State College in Edmond. In 1963, Bill and Bernie had their third and final son, Paul Kevin.
Bill and Bernie were faithful in their love for Jesus and served at First Baptist Church of Edmond (159), were part of the founding familes of the mission startup Henderson Hills Baptist (1966) and in 1969 Bill was named pastor of Fairview Community Church Bernie was a faithful member of Fairview from 1969 until her graduation to heaven this week.
In 1978, Bernie's best friend and sister "Lucy" moved to Edmond with her husband after retirement. Bernie and Lucy were fixtures together talking every night by phone, going to church together, grocery shopping together and faithfully attacking every Red Apple Sale at Foleys.
In 1999, Bill suffered a severe stroke but survived. Bernie cared for her beloved husband in their home for almost three years before Bill's passing in 2001. They enjoyed 54 years of marriage together on this earth before being reunited this week in heaven.
Nani and Papa, as they came to be known, adored their eight grandchildren; Nicole Leigh, Jason David, Kimberly Dawn, Lyndsey Michelle, Kyle Stephen, Matthew Keith, Joshua Paul and Jacob Andrew. At the time of her passing, Bernie also enjoyed hold all eleven of her great grandchildren.
Bernie Blair was preceded in death by her husband Bill, parents Harry Hill and Eva Koch, stepfather Buck Koch and her brothers Elba and Edwin.
She is survived by sons David (and wife Debbie) of Edmond; Steve (and wife Debi) of Guthrie, Paul (and wife Cindy) of Edmond, sister Hazel "Lucy" Ruskowski of Edmond, nephew James Walter Ruskowski of Edmond; nieces Jane Garret of Houston and Judy Ruof of Houston; eight grandchildren; Nicole Blair (and Brandon Dyer), Jason (and wife Lori) Blair, Kimberly Blair, Lyndsey Beck, Kyle (and wife Kristin) Blair, Matt (and wife Chelsea) Blair, Josh (and wife Brooke) Blair Jacob (and wife MacKensie) Blair and eleven great grandchildren: Hannah Blair, Averi Beck, Abby Blair, Ashlynn Beck, Elizabeth Blair, Lillian Blair, Landon Blair, Noah Beck, Beau Blair, William Blair and Roman Blair.
Contributor: Deborah Blair (47090463)
Added February 22, 2022
Bernice Hill Blair went home to be with Jesus on Monday morning, February 7, 2022. She was 98 years old.
Reva Bernice Hill was born on November 12, 1923, in Mansfield, AR, to Harry and Eva Hill. Bernice or "Bernie" was an excellent student graduating as Valedictorian of her class.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Bernie went to work as a typist at Camp Chaffee and quickly rose through the ranks becoming the Executive Secretary to the Commanding General at what would become Fort Chaffee.
After the war, Bernie me a young Navy veteran named Bill Blair at a Sunday evening youth church social. They were married on November 8, 1946. Bill and Bernie began their lives together in Okmulgee and then Stillwater as Bill entered college at Oklahoma A & M. Their first two sons, David Keith and Stephen Kent, were born while living in Stillwater. Upon graduation, Bill's career as an architectural engineer landed him a job at the university where the family moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia overseeing several joint projects led by Oklahoma A & M. After returning to the states, Bill and Bernie moved to Edmond in 1959 with Bill taking a job at the Benham Companies which eventually became Benham-Blair and Affiliates. Bernie loved education and while being a full-time homemaker and mother, accumulated 90 hours toward a Business Degree at Central State College in Edmond. In 1963, Bill and Bernie had their third and final son, Paul Kevin.
Bill and Bernie were faithful in their love for Jesus and served at First Baptist Church of Edmond (159), were part of the founding familes of the mission startup Henderson Hills Baptist (1966) and in 1969 Bill was named pastor of Fairview Community Church Bernie was a faithful member of Fairview from 1969 until her graduation to heaven this week.
In 1978, Bernie's best friend and sister "Lucy" moved to Edmond with her husband after retirement. Bernie and Lucy were fixtures together talking every night by phone, going to church together, grocery shopping together and faithfully attacking every Red Apple Sale at Foleys.
In 1999, Bill suffered a severe stroke but survived. Bernie cared for her beloved husband in their home for almost three years before Bill's passing in 2001. They enjoyed 54 years of marriage together on this earth before being reunited this week in heaven.
Nani and Papa, as they came to be known, adored their eight grandchildren; Nicole Leigh, Jason David, Kimberly Dawn, Lyndsey Michelle, Kyle Stephen, Matthew Keith, Joshua Paul and Jacob Andrew. At the time of her passing, Bernie also enjoyed hold all eleven of her great grandchildren.
Bernie Blair was preceded in death by her husband Bill, parents Harry Hill and Eva Koch, stepfather Buck Koch and her brothers Elba and Edwin.
She is survived by sons David (and wife Debbie) of Edmond; Steve (and wife Debi) of Guthrie, Paul (and wife Cindy) of Edmond, sister Hazel "Lucy" Ruskowski of Edmond, nephew James Walter Ruskowski of Edmond; nieces Jane Garret of Houston and Judy Ruof of Houston; eight grandchildren; Nicole Blair (and Brandon Dyer), Jason (and wife Lori) Blair, Kimberly Blair, Lyndsey Beck, Kyle (and wife Kristin) Blair, Matt (and wife Chelsea) Blair, Josh (and wife Brooke) Blair Jacob (and wife MacKensie) Blair and eleven great grandchildren: Hannah Blair, Averi Beck, Abby Blair, Ashlynn Beck, Elizabeth Blair, Lillian Blair, Landon Blair, Noah Beck, Beau Blair, William Blair and Roman Blair.
Contributor: Deborah Blair (47090463)
Bernice Hill Blair went home to be with Jesus on Monday morning, February 7, 2022. She was 98 years old.
Reva Bernice Hill was born on November 12, 1923, in Mansfield, AR, to Harry and Eva Hill. Bernice or "Bernie" was an excellent student graduating as Valedictorian of her class.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Bernie went to work as a typist at Camp Chaffee and quickly rose through the ranks becoming the Executive Secretary to the Commanding General at what would become Fort Chaffee.
After the war, Bernie me a young Navy veteran named Bill Blair at a Sunday evening youth church social. They were married on November 8, 1946. Bill and Bernie began their lives together in Okmulgee and then Stillwater as Bill entered college at Oklahoma A & M. Their first two sons, David Keith and Stephen Kent, were born while living in Stillwater. Upon graduation, Bill's career as an architectural engineer landed him a job at the university where the family moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia overseeing several joint projects led by Oklahoma A & M. After returning to the states, Bill and Bernie moved to Edmond in 1959 with Bill taking a job at the Benham Companies which eventually became Benham-Blair and Affiliates. Bernie loved education and while being a full-time homemaker and mother, accumulated 90 hours toward a Business Degree at Central State College in Edmond. In 1963, Bill and Bernie had their third and final son, Paul Kevin.
Bill and Bernie were faithful in their love for Jesus and served at First Baptist Church of Edmond (159), were part of the founding familes of the mission startup Henderson Hills Baptist (1966) and in 1969 Bill was named pastor of Fairview Community Church Bernie was a faithful member of Fairview from 1969 until her graduation to heaven this week.
In 1978, Bernie's best friend and sister "Lucy" moved to Edmond with her husband after retirement. Bernie and Lucy were fixtures together talking every night by phone, going to church together, grocery shopping together and faithfully attacking every Red Apple Sale at Foleys.
In 1999, Bill suffered a severe stroke but survived. Bernie cared for her beloved husband in their home for almost three years before Bill's passing in 2001. They enjoyed 54 years of marriage together on this earth before being reunited this week in heaven.
Nani and Papa, as they came to be known, adored their eight grandchildren; Nicole Leigh, Jason David, Kimberly Dawn, Lyndsey Michelle, Kyle Stephen, Matthew Keith, Joshua Paul and Jacob Andrew. At the time of her passing, Bernie also enjoyed hold all eleven of her great grandchildren.
Bernie Blair was preceded in death by her husband Bill, parents Harry Hill and Eva Koch, stepfather Buck Koch and her brothers Elba and Edwin.
She is survived by sons David (and wife Debbie) of Edmond; Steve (and wife Debi) of Guthrie, Paul (and wife Cindy) of Edmond, sister Hazel "Lucy" Ruskowski of Edmond, nephew James Walter Ruskowski of Edmond; nieces Jane Garret of Houston and Judy Ruof of Houston; eight grandchildren; Nicole Blair (and Brandon Dyer), Jason (and wife Lori) Blair, Kimberly Blair, Lyndsey Beck, Kyle (and wife Kristin) Blair, Matt (and wife Chelsea) Blair, Josh (and wife Brooke) Blair Jacob (and wife MacKensie) Blair and eleven great grandchildren: Hannah Blair, Averi Beck, Abby Blair, Ashlynn Beck, Elizabeth Blair, Lillian Blair, Landon Blair, Noah Beck, Beau Blair, William Blair and Roman Blair.
Contributor: Deborah Blair (47090463)
Inscription
Absent from the body, Present with the Lord II Cor 5:8
