Obituary: Thomas Franklin "Tommy" Blair, March 20, 2013

Contributed by Brenda Scott Hines
March 2015
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The Observer/Enterprise, Coke County, TX - March 29, 2013

Thomas Franklin "Tommy" Blair passed from this life March 20, 2013, at 
his home in Robert Lee, Texas. Tommy was born May 27, 1946, to Ralph 
and Ruby Lee Blair at the home of his grandparents, Thomas and Amanda 
Harmon, on Paint Creek in Robert Lee, Texas.

Tommy, a lifelong resident of the West Texas area, spent most of his 
life in Robert Lee. He was well known for his diligence, starting on the 
oil rigs with his dad as a young man. Tommy then moved to Silver, Texas, 
to begin working for Ernest Clendennen Inc., which he did for many years. 
This is where he learned the trade of welding, which became his passion. 
He continued to weld for the rest of his life.

On December 19, 1975, he met the love of his life, Jo Nell Ross. They 
were married seven months later on July 3, 1976. Tommy and Jo Nell were 
blessed with two children, Amanda and Beau, daughter-in-law, Natalie, 
and two grandsons, Hunter and Max. Tommy loved riding his Harley, camping, 
hunting, fishing, cooking outdoors, and most of all, his family.

Tommy was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Ruby Lee Blair; 
father-in-law, Joe Ross; sisters, Carolyn Nichols and Glenda Hammond; 
brother, Steven Blair; brother-in-law, Terry Ross; special uncle and aunt, 
Alfred and Ethel Harmon; and nephews Daniel Ross and Patrick Blair.

Survivors include, his wife of almost 37 years, Jo Nell Blair, of 
Robert Lee; daughter, Amanda Blair, of Robert Lee; son and daughter-in-law, 
Beau and Natalie Blair, of Lubbock; grandsons, Hunter and Max Blair, of 
Lubbock; mother-in-law, Nellie Ross, of Robert Lee; sister-in-law, Linda 
Gayle Shandley and husband Lane, of Pipe Creek; brother-in-law, Ricky 
Ross and wife Becky, of Robert Lee; nephews, Russ Lomas, Kelly Nichols, 
Lance, Joseph, and Landon Shandley, Joshua and Lucas Blair, and 
Mason Ross; and nieces, Kim Hodge, Rikki Mathis, Brook Wilkins, and 
Meagan Ross.

Visitation was held all day Friday, March 22, at Shaffer Funeral Home, 
with the family present from 6 to 8 pm. Graveside service was at 2pm 
Saturday, March 23, at the Robert Lee Cemetery. Services were under the 
direction of Shaffer Funeral Home in Robert Lee.
 
The family requests donations be made to KCRN Radio 93.9 FM or 
St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

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