Eva Blair

Eva Blair, 97, of Jefferson, formerly of Paton, Iowa died Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015.

A Service of Rememberance was held on Wednesday, November 18, 2015, at First Presbyterian Church in Paton, Iowa. Words of comfort were delivered by Reverend Dan Emmert. The honorary casket bearers were her great-grandchildren Kalen Thrane, Colton Thrane, Shanice Blair, Chantel Blair, Taysia Blair, Corbin Blair, Kristen Blair, Brandon Bollig and Madison Schreier. The casket bearers were John Blair, Mark Blair, Mark David Blair, Dave Cunningham, Allan Mundt and Dave Mundt. The songs, He Touched Me and Never Alone, were performed by soloist, Gary Haupert and accompanist, Danille Curtis. Interment was in Paton Township Cemetery in Paton, Iowa.

Eva Lenore Drayer Blair, daughter of Mildred Gower Drayer and James Drayer, was born January 15, 1918, in Dawson Township, Greene County, Iowa.  Eva grew up in the Paton area and attended country school for 8 years.  She then attended Paton High School and graduated in 1936.  After graduation, Eva worked at a waitress in Paton and also worked at the grocery store. On March 8, 1941, Eva was united in marriage to Glenn Blair at the Presbyterian Parsonage in Paton, Iowa.  They were the parents of two children, Jerry and Richard.  They made their home on a farm near Paton where they lived until retiring in 1989, when they moved into Paton. Eva had many hobbies, including quilting and crocheting afghans.  She was an incredible cook, and was one of the few places you could get a fresh baked apple or cherry pie in the middle of winter.  She enjoyed doing word searches and crossword puzzles, and she logged many miles walking around her home community of Paton.  She especially loved spending time with family.  She was a member of the Paton Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Women where she served many funeral lunches over the years, and was an elder in the church.

Eva was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her two sons: Jerry in 1973 and Richard “Yogi” in 2008.  She is survived by daughter-in-law Pam Blair of Colorado Springs, CO; her sister Doris Mundt of Gowrie, IA; her brother Frank Drayer of Jefferson, IA; her three granddaughters: Jannette (Jeff) Thrane of Boone, IA, Jackie Blair of Jefferson, IA, and Jodi Blair of Paton, IA; grandson Jake (Stef) Schreier of Paton, IA; nine great grandchildren Kalen (Britta) Thrane, Colton Thrane, Shanice Blair, Chantel Blair, Taysia Blair, Corbin Blair, Kristen Blair, Brandon Bollig, and Madison Schreier; one great-great grandchild Rhett Thrane; nieces; nephews; and other relatives and friends.