Jefferson "Jeff" Blair

Jefferson “Jeff” Blair, age 92, of Grants Pass, passed away Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at Three Rivers Community Hospital after a short illness.

A graveside service will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, November 8, 2010 at Hawthorne Memorial Gardens. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

He was born on April 20, 1918 in Doland, South Dakota to Ray & Anna Blair. Jeff enlisted in the United States Navy before WW II as a Boatswain Mate and was at Pearl Harbor on-board the USS Ramsay during the attack. After WW II and his honorable discharge from the Navy he moved to Grants Pass, Oregon with his wife Cecelia (Chow), who died in 1967. Jeff was a member of the local American Legion and worked in the lumber industry and for many years. He was the custodian at Madrona Elementary School.

Known to his family as “Zitoe,” he was a beloved and devoted husband, brother, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He is survived by his brother Leonard of Lead, South Dakota; loving daughters, Sheila Pirce (husband Niels)of Grants Pass; Janice Balheimer (husband Dale) of Pensacola, Florida and Barbara Brown (husband Richard) of Bremerton, Washington and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

All who knew him will miss him.