Thomas C. L. Blair

Thomas C.L. Blair, a Christian, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather born in Vian, Oklahoma, on January 27, 1932, departed this life on August 23, 2018. Tom and his wife of 67 years, Peggy, lived in both Oregon and California before moving to Claremore in 2006, to live near their daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Richard Kern, and where Blue Starr Church of Christ became their faith family. Their first family includes six children (the youngest of whom, Brian, predeceased Tom in 1994), 16 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren, with another on the way. His descendents live from New York to Oregon and from Oklahoma to California.

The son of Charles Lunsford and Ethel Blair, Tom grew up with his sisters, Betty and Estalee, in England, Arkansas, but lived most of his adult life in California, where he was a logger who became a licensed contractor and member of the Operating Engineers. He was the owner-operator for many years of Thomas Blair & Sons, Inc. in the Bay Area, operating heavy equipment as a grading and paving contractor while encouraging his sons Dennis, David and Tom Jr.—and first son-in-law, Stan, who married his daughter Jessica—to “work smarter, not harder”.

Tom continued to work hard himself, and he and Peggy, who earned her California Realtor’s license to market the lots, developed the Boston-Yale Ranch subdivision in Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras County—in the heart of California’s gold country. He also received certification as a Civil/Commercial & Employment Mediator through the Oklahoma District Court System.

Tom volunteered as a reservist when he was just 17 years old during the Korean War and was soon called to active duty with the U.S.M.C. Disappointed at being unable to continue serving due to medical issues he remained fiercely loyal to, and supportive of, his country's troops and veterans. A memorial service for Tom will be held at Blue Starr Church of Christ at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 26, 2018, with interment to follow at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom’s memory to D.A.V. Chapter 44, 801 W. Davenport St., Claremore, OK 74017 or Hope Harbor Academy, www.hopeharborinc.org .