CARL RICHARD BLAIR

June 14, 1944 – April 1, 2021

Carl Richard Blair, 76, passed away Thursday, April 1, 2021 at his residence in Hemphill, Texas.

Carl was born June 14, 1944 at home in Washington County, Pennsylvania to George Richard Blair and Ruth Elizabeth Beaver.

Carl met the love of his life, Kay Beazell, in 6 th grade.  He and Kay were married on December 18, 1965.  Carl graduated from Penn State University and after completing Army Officer Candidate School in Aberdeen, Maryland, he was stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas.  After an honorable discharge from the Army as a 1 st LT in 1969, Carl and Kay began a life journey that included stops in Houston, TX; Gainesville, FL; Covington, GA; Sherman, TX; Negreet, LA, Hemphill, TX; and Howe, TX before retiring and returning to the lake in Hemphill, TX in 2005.  Carl worked in carpentry with his dad before graduating high school and carried that love of woodworking into later years.  If Kay could imagine it, Carl could build it. Carl was an avid fisherman all of his life and he and Kay spent many happy hours after retirement on the waters of Toledo Bend Lake bass fishing, enjoying nature, and being together.

Carl is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Catherine (Kay) Beazell Blair; daughter, Amy Dawn Blair Cummings and husband Marc of Mannford, Oklahoma; grandchildren Kyle Blair Cummings of Norman, Oklahoma and Katie Beth Cummings of College Station, Texas; sisters Regina (John) Milavec of Novato, CA, Janet (Bill) Crawford of McMurray, PA, and Linda (Tom) Kelly of Hardeeville, SC; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents George Richard and Ruth Elizabeth Blair and brother Robert James Blair.

Private services will be held at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Community Benevolence Fund of Affinity Hospice, c/o 2708 S. Medford Drive, Lufkin, TX  75901.