W. Maurice "Butch" Blair, 94, lifetime farmer of Vermilion County and former resident of Goodwine, Ill., died June 23, 2008 of natural causes at the Heritage Nursing Home in Longview, Texas, with his beloved wife of 68 years by his side.
Mr. Blair was born in Butler Township, Vermilion County, Ill., on Aug. 24, 1913, to Herman F. Blair and Laura Merret Blair.
On March 13, 1940, he married Opal May Elliott in Gate City, Va. Upon their marriage, Maurice became the eldest brother-in-law to Opal's nine brothers and sisters, who welcomed him totally with open arms and hearts.
Mr. Blair took over the family farm upon the death of his father and continued to actively farm and then participate in the management of the farm his entire life. A certificate for a Centennial Family Farm was received in 2006. Maurice and Opal also owned and managed the general store in Goodwine from 1949 to 1963 and then continued to live in Goodwine until 1999 when they moved to Southern Texas for the warmer weather. They have always considered Goodwine and Central Illinois home.
Maurice was an extremely hard worker and worked to give his family the best of everything. He loved his family and did all he could to provide for them. Maurice was a member of the Goodwine Methodist Church and served the church and community of Goodwine for many years.
He loved to travel and camping was in his opinion the only way to go. Their travels took them into every state in the USA at least once and many places outside the U.S. as well. Games of all kind and especially checkers were at the top of his agenda. Very few individuals ever won a game of checkers from Maurice. He gave of himself as much as he could and was someone who could always be counted on in a pinch.
Maurice is survived by his wife, Opal; his son, William M. Blair Jr. (Katherine), of Longview Texas; his two daughters, Laura. Ann Miller of Gibson City, Ill., and Joyce Blair Brock (John) of East Jordan, Mich.; three grandsons, Edwin A. Miller of Gibson City, Ill., Eric J. Brock (Yvette) of Bolingbrook, Ill., and William M. Blair III of Longview, Texas: two granddaughters, Karen Brock Reed (Steven) of Tinley Park, Ill., and Wendy Blair Markowitz (James) of Longview, Texas: five great-grandsons and four great-granddaughters.
Survivors also include two brothers-in-law, Gordon Elliott (Marie) and Jack Elliott (Geraldine) of Watseka, Ill.; and five sisters-in-law, Mary M. Hill, Norma Elliott, L. Faye Elliott of Watseka, Ill., Joanne Rogers (William) of Terra Haute, Ind., and Joan Elliott of Florida; and many nieces and nephews.
Maurice is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Edwin and Milford, son-in-law, James E. Miller, and five brothers-in-law, Cecil A. Elliott, Lester Hill, James M. Elliott, Frances K. Elliott Jr., and Scott C. Elliott; and two sisters-in-law, Elsie Elliott and Ruth Elliott.
A funeral service celebrating Maurice's life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 28 at the Goodwine Methodist Church. Pastor Jeff Elliott will officiate. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday, June 27 at Knapp Funeral Home in Cissna Park and one hour prior to the service at the church. Internment will be in East Lynn Cemetery, East Lynn, Ill.
Friends wishing to honor Maurice's memory with a charitable contribution are asked to consider the Goodwine Methodist Church.
Arrangements by Knapp Funeral Home in Cissna Park, Ill.
Mr. Blair was born in Butler Township, Vermilion County, Ill., on Aug. 24, 1913, to Herman F. Blair and Laura Merret Blair.
On March 13, 1940, he married Opal May Elliott in Gate City, Va. Upon their marriage, Maurice became the eldest brother-in-law to Opal's nine brothers and sisters, who welcomed him totally with open arms and hearts.
Mr. Blair took over the family farm upon the death of his father and continued to actively farm and then participate in the management of the farm his entire life. A certificate for a Centennial Family Farm was received in 2006. Maurice and Opal also owned and managed the general store in Goodwine from 1949 to 1963 and then continued to live in Goodwine until 1999 when they moved to Southern Texas for the warmer weather. They have always considered Goodwine and Central Illinois home.
Maurice was an extremely hard worker and worked to give his family the best of everything. He loved his family and did all he could to provide for them. Maurice was a member of the Goodwine Methodist Church and served the church and community of Goodwine for many years.
He loved to travel and camping was in his opinion the only way to go. Their travels took them into every state in the USA at least once and many places outside the U.S. as well. Games of all kind and especially checkers were at the top of his agenda. Very few individuals ever won a game of checkers from Maurice. He gave of himself as much as he could and was someone who could always be counted on in a pinch.
Maurice is survived by his wife, Opal; his son, William M. Blair Jr. (Katherine), of Longview Texas; his two daughters, Laura. Ann Miller of Gibson City, Ill., and Joyce Blair Brock (John) of East Jordan, Mich.; three grandsons, Edwin A. Miller of Gibson City, Ill., Eric J. Brock (Yvette) of Bolingbrook, Ill., and William M. Blair III of Longview, Texas: two granddaughters, Karen Brock Reed (Steven) of Tinley Park, Ill., and Wendy Blair Markowitz (James) of Longview, Texas: five great-grandsons and four great-granddaughters.
Survivors also include two brothers-in-law, Gordon Elliott (Marie) and Jack Elliott (Geraldine) of Watseka, Ill.; and five sisters-in-law, Mary M. Hill, Norma Elliott, L. Faye Elliott of Watseka, Ill., Joanne Rogers (William) of Terra Haute, Ind., and Joan Elliott of Florida; and many nieces and nephews.
Maurice is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Edwin and Milford, son-in-law, James E. Miller, and five brothers-in-law, Cecil A. Elliott, Lester Hill, James M. Elliott, Frances K. Elliott Jr., and Scott C. Elliott; and two sisters-in-law, Elsie Elliott and Ruth Elliott.
A funeral service celebrating Maurice's life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 28 at the Goodwine Methodist Church. Pastor Jeff Elliott will officiate. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday, June 27 at Knapp Funeral Home in Cissna Park and one hour prior to the service at the church. Internment will be in East Lynn Cemetery, East Lynn, Ill.
Friends wishing to honor Maurice's memory with a charitable contribution are asked to consider the Goodwine Methodist Church.
Arrangements by Knapp Funeral Home in Cissna Park, Ill.
W. Maurice "Butch" Blair, 94, lifetime farmer of Vermilion County and former resident of Goodwine, Ill., died June 23, 2008 of natural causes at the Heritage Nursing Home in Longview, Texas, with his beloved wife of 68 years by his side.
Mr. Blair was born in Butler Township, Vermilion County, Ill., on Aug. 24, 1913, to Herman F. Blair and Laura Merret Blair.
On March 13, 1940, he married Opal May Elliott in Gate City, Va. Upon their marriage, Maurice became the eldest brother-in-law to Opal's nine brothers and sisters, who welcomed him totally with open arms and hearts.
Mr. Blair took over the family farm upon the death of his father and continued to actively farm and then participate in the management of the farm his entire life. A certificate for a Centennial Family Farm was received in 2006. Maurice and Opal also owned and managed the general store in Goodwine from 1949 to 1963 and then continued to live in Goodwine until 1999 when they moved to Southern Texas for the warmer weather. They have always considered Goodwine and Central Illinois home.
Maurice was an extremely hard worker and worked to give his family the best of everything. He loved his family and did all he could to provide for them. Maurice was a member of the Goodwine Methodist Church and served the church and community of Goodwine for many years.
He loved to travel and camping was in his opinion the only way to go. Their travels took them into every state in the USA at least once and many places outside the U.S. as well. Games of all kind and especially checkers were at the top of his agenda. Very few individuals ever won a game of checkers from Maurice. He gave of himself as much as he could and was someone who could always be counted on in a pinch.
Maurice is survived by his wife, Opal; his son, William M. Blair Jr. (Katherine), of Longview Texas; his two daughters, Laura. Ann Miller of Gibson City, Ill., and Joyce Blair Brock (John) of East Jordan, Mich.; three grandsons, Edwin A. Miller of Gibson City, Ill., Eric J. Brock (Yvette) of Bolingbrook, Ill., and William M. Blair III of Longview, Texas: two granddaughters, Karen Brock Reed (Steven) of Tinley Park, Ill., and Wendy Blair Markowitz (James) of Longview, Texas: five great-grandsons and four great-granddaughters.
Survivors also include two brothers-in-law, Gordon Elliott (Marie) and Jack Elliott (Geraldine) of Watseka, Ill.; and five sisters-in-law, Mary M. Hill, Norma Elliott, L. Faye Elliott of Watseka, Ill., Joanne Rogers (William) of Terra Haute, Ind., and Joan Elliott of Florida; and many nieces and nephews.
Maurice is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Edwin and Milford, son-in-law, James E. Miller, and five brothers-in-law, Cecil A. Elliott, Lester Hill, James M. Elliott, Frances K. Elliott Jr., and Scott C. Elliott; and two sisters-in-law, Elsie Elliott and Ruth Elliott.
A funeral service celebrating Maurice's life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 28 at the Goodwine Methodist Church. Pastor Jeff Elliott will officiate. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday, June 27 at Knapp Funeral Home in Cissna Park and one hour prior to the service at the church. Internment will be in East Lynn Cemetery, East Lynn, Ill.
Friends wishing to honor Maurice's memory with a charitable contribution are asked to consider the Goodwine Methodist Church.
Arrangements by Knapp Funeral Home in Cissna Park, Ill.
Mr. Blair was born in Butler Township, Vermilion County, Ill., on Aug. 24, 1913, to Herman F. Blair and Laura Merret Blair.
On March 13, 1940, he married Opal May Elliott in Gate City, Va. Upon their marriage, Maurice became the eldest brother-in-law to Opal's nine brothers and sisters, who welcomed him totally with open arms and hearts.
Mr. Blair took over the family farm upon the death of his father and continued to actively farm and then participate in the management of the farm his entire life. A certificate for a Centennial Family Farm was received in 2006. Maurice and Opal also owned and managed the general store in Goodwine from 1949 to 1963 and then continued to live in Goodwine until 1999 when they moved to Southern Texas for the warmer weather. They have always considered Goodwine and Central Illinois home.
Maurice was an extremely hard worker and worked to give his family the best of everything. He loved his family and did all he could to provide for them. Maurice was a member of the Goodwine Methodist Church and served the church and community of Goodwine for many years.
He loved to travel and camping was in his opinion the only way to go. Their travels took them into every state in the USA at least once and many places outside the U.S. as well. Games of all kind and especially checkers were at the top of his agenda. Very few individuals ever won a game of checkers from Maurice. He gave of himself as much as he could and was someone who could always be counted on in a pinch.
Maurice is survived by his wife, Opal; his son, William M. Blair Jr. (Katherine), of Longview Texas; his two daughters, Laura. Ann Miller of Gibson City, Ill., and Joyce Blair Brock (John) of East Jordan, Mich.; three grandsons, Edwin A. Miller of Gibson City, Ill., Eric J. Brock (Yvette) of Bolingbrook, Ill., and William M. Blair III of Longview, Texas: two granddaughters, Karen Brock Reed (Steven) of Tinley Park, Ill., and Wendy Blair Markowitz (James) of Longview, Texas: five great-grandsons and four great-granddaughters.
Survivors also include two brothers-in-law, Gordon Elliott (Marie) and Jack Elliott (Geraldine) of Watseka, Ill.; and five sisters-in-law, Mary M. Hill, Norma Elliott, L. Faye Elliott of Watseka, Ill., Joanne Rogers (William) of Terra Haute, Ind., and Joan Elliott of Florida; and many nieces and nephews.
Maurice is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Edwin and Milford, son-in-law, James E. Miller, and five brothers-in-law, Cecil A. Elliott, Lester Hill, James M. Elliott, Frances K. Elliott Jr., and Scott C. Elliott; and two sisters-in-law, Elsie Elliott and Ruth Elliott.
A funeral service celebrating Maurice's life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 28 at the Goodwine Methodist Church. Pastor Jeff Elliott will officiate. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday, June 27 at Knapp Funeral Home in Cissna Park and one hour prior to the service at the church. Internment will be in East Lynn Cemetery, East Lynn, Ill.
Friends wishing to honor Maurice's memory with a charitable contribution are asked to consider the Goodwine Methodist Church.
Arrangements by Knapp Funeral Home in Cissna Park, Ill.
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