Frances Jordan (Tate) Blair

Blair, Frances Jordan (Tate) was born 92 years ago in Littleton, N.C., the daughter of Claude Stratton and Ara Jordan Tate. She is sister to the late Virginia Alexander and the late Claude Tate, and is survived by her sister Nettie Graham of Santa Maria, CA. Two other siblings died as toddlers. The nature of their illnesses left a lasting impression on Frances. A tomboy, she played with neighbors in the woods, dammed the branch to go swimming and delivered papers on her bicycle. She majored in science at the Women’s College of the University of N.C. and hoped to become a doctor. But this was the Depression, so first she became a medical laboratory technician working at Alamance County Hospital in Burlington, N.C. She traveled north to earn her master’s degree in chemistry at Smith College. During WWII she was offered a research position at M.I.T. in Cambridge where she worked in radio technology contributing to the war effort. With two other young women she rented an apartment from her future mother-in-law. She met her husband Robert Lincoln Blair. They married October 21, 1944. They raised three children, Virginia Culbertson of Quincy, Martha Stutzman of Wilmette, IL and Robert J. Blair of Lutz, FL. Frances is also survived by her grandchildren, Rebecca, Peter, Matthew and Timothy Blair, Molly Miranda and Kenneth & Gene Stutzman. Frances enjoyed her family and was active in the community, golfing at Cohasset Golf Club, bowling at the Quincy Neighborhood Club, giving talks at the Friday Club, the oldest existing Women’s Club of Quincy. She worked as a volunteer and supporter at Crittendon Hastings House and also volunteered at the William B. Rice Eventide Home. She enjoyed synchronized swimming at the Quincy Y.M.C.A., where she was active on the Board for many years. She found a special home in her church community and was active in Sigma Phi, served on the Finance Committee as head of the pledge drive, helped with the ESL Program and did what she could to help with the running of the church. Throughout her life she cared for those she knew; writing letters to shut-ins and looking out for the needs of her grandchildren and family. She was known for her independent nature and her husband called her a “determined woman”. Her husband Robert’s “thoughts” were always a frame of reference for her. She was an avid reader, a veritable vacuum cleaner of knowledge. She especially enjoyed history. In later years if you wanted a conversation with her you had to wait until the end of the visit to give her any books you had brought. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral Service in the Quincy Community United Methodist Church, 40 Beale St., Quincy Thursday at 10:30 AM. Visiting hours will be held Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM from the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St., QUINCY. Burial in Mount Hope Cemetery, Boston, followed by a reception at the church in Quincy. In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Mrs. Blair may be made to Quincy Community United Methodist Church, 40 Beale St., Quincy, MA 02170, South Shore YMCA, 79 Coddington St., Quincy, MA 02169 or The Smile Train, 245 Fifth Ave. Ste. 2201, New York, NY 10016.