Mary Blair

Mrs. Mary L. Blair, age 94, of Bowling Green, KY, passed away Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at the Hospice House of Southern Kentucky. Mary’s wishes were to be cremated. A private service will be held with her family and friends. Mary was born November 5, 1927, in Lunenburg, VT to the late Joseph LaValley Sr. and the late Ethel Platt LaValley. Besides her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, David J. Blair III, and two sons and a daughter, David J. Blair IV, Sterling Blair and Peggy Francis. Her family was her driving force in life, and she leaves behind three daughters, Kristen Holbert, JoAnne (John) Starks and Deirdre (Lee) Staley; beloved grandchildren, Rebecca (Chandler) Huston, Leah Staley, Patrick Staley, and Bryan Francis; great-grandchildren, Mark Francis, David Francis, Bryce Huston and Grayson Huston. Many more called her Ma Blair, especially her other “sons”, Mark Fitzgerald, John DeCutris, Hank Albarelli, Michael Garzone and Frank Gordon. She touched and loved so many on her journey and she always had room on her “flug” with blankets and love. She loved you all. Mary grew up in Vermont and was an avid dancer as a young woman. She sang and danced in Summer Stock and many community theaters. She entered Nursing school at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Hanover, NH in 1945. While there she met her husband, David Blair III, at Dartmouth College. She loved being a nurse and honed her craft over the years working in hospitals in Boston, Massachusetts, and Troy, New York. In 1965 she went to work for Rensselaer County Department of Social Services in Troy, NY as a social worker. She found that work professionally rewarding, and her many stories chronicled the changes in healthcare and human service over several decades. While living in Texas, Mary managed the Ronald McDonald House by caring for families whose children had cancer. Mary lived in Rochester, New York from 2000 to 2021, living close to two of her daughters. Since 2022, she had been cared for by her daughter JoAnne and son-in-law, John, in Bowling Green, KY and then at The Hospice House of Southern Kentucky. Proverbs 17:6 NIV Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. Friends and family are encouraged to consider supporting the compassionate work of Hospice of Southern Kentucky. Donations can be mailed to 5872 Scottsville Road Bowling Green, KY 42104, or their website at hospicesoky. org or they can be reached directly at 270-746-9300. Donations can also be dropped off at the funeral home where envelopes will be provided. You may post your condolences on the tribute wall of this page, or on our Facebook page at www. facebook. com/conefuneralhome Please note the memorial tree links do not connect to a local arborist in Bowling Green, KY. If you wish to plant a memorial tree locally you may contact the Lost River Cave (270-393-0077 – Katie Cielinski) or the City of Bowling Green Parks and Recreation department at www. bgky. org/bgpr/cemeteries/memorial-tree or the Warren County Parks and Recreation department.