James Kelly Blair

"James Kelly Blair, 73, who recently moved to Belchertown, Massachusetts from Amherst, MA passed away suddenly but peacefully at home on December 30, 2014. Kelly was born February 15, 1941 in Orem, UT, son of James E. and Carol (Pendleton) Blair and grew up in Southern California. Kelly was the eldest of five children, Katherine, Dennis Michael, Patricia and Robert. He spent two years in Mexico as a LDS Missionary from 1960-1961. After studying engineering at Brigham Young University, Kelly joined his father in a business customizing parts for high altitude aircraft. In 1966 Kelly met and married Barbara Peterson who had three children from a previous marriage, Frank, Michael and Carol. Barbara and Kelly had two daughters, Kelly Sue and Karen and the combined Peterson-Blair family lived in the western San Fernando Valley, CA. Kelly, his wife Barbara and their five children were in frequent contact with his siblings as they matured, married and raised children around Southern California. "Uncle Kelly" was a favorite of Kate McBean's two children, Sara and Jeremy then also living in the San Fernando Valley; Mike and Clayrene Blair's five children; Jimmy, Andrea, Annette, Deanne and Christine then living in La Mirada, CA; and, Pat and Len Whitacre's six children; Lavender, Alison, Tyler, April, Eve, and John then living in San Juan Capistrano. Some of the favorite family traditions were the picnic and fireworks on July 4th at Mike and Clayrene's in La Mirada; Thanksgiving dinner at Pat's in San Juan Capistrano where they finished the night by pulling names for the Christmas gift exchange and Christmas evening at Kelly's Mom's in Westchester, CA where they exchanged gifts. Barbara and Kelly parted ways in 1985 and Kelly moved his business to Van Nuys, CA and took up residence nearby. In 1987, Kelly met Rosary "Rody" Canham at an "Adult Children of Alcoholics" meeting in Encino, Ca. They were married in the summer of 1991 and lived in Van Nuys. Music for the wedding was provided by a choir formed by Kelly's nieces and nephews with a solo by niece Lavender Whitacre. Kelly and Rody remodeled their home on Peach Avenue in Van Nuys, CA adding a master bedroom suite and family room. The addition of a porch and brick sidewalk was accomplished with the help of nephew Jimmy. In 1993 after watching Kelly and his extended family closely, Rody joined them in memebership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and worshiped together with Kelly at the Sherman Oaks ward on Burbank Boulevard. In 1994 after the Northridge earthquake, Kelly and Rody began thinking about moving out of Southern California. With the reduction in military spending after the dissolution of USSR in 1991 and the temporary cessation of space travel causing a serious reduction in demand for his services, Kelly was ready to change careers and he sold his business. Coincidentally; in spring of 1994 Rody was recruited by the North Shore Medical Center in Salem, Massachusetts and so they moved across country to Chelmsford, MA. While Rody commuted to Salem, MA, Kelly commuted to Providence, RI where he attended and graduated from Johnson & Wales with a degree in Culinary Arts. In his last year Kelly completed an internship at a Sodexho Marriott facility at the Reservoir Place in Waltham and was hired on permanently. Although now on the east coast, Kelly and Rody returned to California as much as possible. For sad occasions: Robert, Kelly's brother's passing in in the spring of 1995, his mother's passing in the fall of 1997 as well as family celebrations. Kelly made as many of the marriages of his nieces and nephews as possible: Lavender Whitacre's marriage to Joseph Florence; Jimmy Blair's wedding to Billie; Alison Whitacre's marriage to Clint Firth; April Whitacre's marriage to Derek Englis; Sara McBean's marriage to Ryan Jones; Deanne Blair's marriage to Nazar Kalayji; Tyler Whitacre's marriage to Wendy; Annette Blair's marriage to Jason Schwab; Eve Whitacre's marriage to Greg Smith; Christine Blair's marriage to Brandon Horta and John Whitacre's marriage to Kaitlin Nelson. Shortly after Kelly and Rody moved to the east coast, Kelly's daughter Karen moved with her husband Bill Abreu and granddaughters Shannon and Stephanie to Southern Maryland. Having Karen's family on the east coast allowed for Kelly and Rody to celebrate many Christmases with them. In 1997 after watching a PBS program about the abandoned girl babies in China, Kelly and Rody chose to pursue adoption. After they were approved for Chinese adoption, Kelly and Rody were approached by the adoption agency asking if they might be interested in "an Asiatic toddler girl in Russia." Agreeing, they were told there was "one little problem." The "problem" was that the 4 year old girl had a two year old brother. For Kelly this was not a problem – this was prayers answered. This is how Kelly and Rody added Karol Rose, 4, (born Aziza) and James Jeffrey, 2, (born Temirilin) to their family. Kelly chose to stay home; became Mr. Mom to Karol and Jeff and the family moved to Wenham, MA, closer to Rody's work. In 2002 Kelly and his family met Cynthia Corsentino and her daughter, Amanda, then age 8, at their church in Georgetown, MA. Cynthia, a single Mom was pregnant with Benjamin and after his birth in October of 2002, Kelly took over as Nanny for both Benjamin and Amanda and the two families became very close. When, due to the dot.com bust, Cynthia was laid off from her systems position in Boston, she became an independent consultant in PeopleSoft installations often having to travel out of town. When that occurred Ben and Amanda stayed with the Blairs and Rody and all four children enjoyed Kelly exercising his culinary skills in the Blair kitchen. In 2003, after the North Shore Medical Center became part of Partners Healthcare, Rody was laid off. Cynthia, had just secured a position at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and moved to Pittsburgh. Shortly thereafter Rody also secured a position in Pittsburgh and the Blairs moved three doors down from the Corsentinos and together became avid Steeler fans. In 2005 Kelly walked his daughter Kelly Sue down the aisle as she married Bryan Bernard and later moved with Bryan to Pocatello, ID. Also in 2005 Kelly began to experience complications from his diabetes. On December 28th, 2005, his lower left leg was amputated and Kelly spent several weeks in St. Clair Hospital in Mt. Lebanon, PA and then several more in the Southside Hospital in Pittsburgh's South Hills. Throughout this period, Cynthia Corsentino and members of the Pittsburgh 5th ward of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints picked up Jeff and Karol from school; made and delivered dinners to the Blair home and otherwise assisted the family deal with Kelly's hospitalization. Significant to Kelly and his family during this time were Dwight Ferguson and Timothy Millett, leaders in the Pittsburgh 5th ward of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints. In 2007 Kelly and his family moved to Amherst, MA. With Karol and Jeff older and not needing the close and constant care Kelly had provided since 1998, he was able to make several trips to California where he met many of his 32 great nieces and nephews. Together the Blair family traveled to Pocatello to visit Kelly and Bryan in the summer of 2008. Between ferrying Karol and Jeff back and forth to football, swimming, lacrosse, and part time work, Kelly served as Executive Secretary in the Bishopric of his church (a voluntary position) which he enjoyed immensely. Just this past summer with both Karol and Jeff out of Amherst schools, Kelly and Rody looked to downsize and purchased a home in the neighboring town of Belchertown finalizing that move in early December. Everyone touched by Kelly's life will testify to his humility, kindness, sense of humor and great Chili. Kelly laughed at himself and often entertained children around him by taking off his prosthesis or giving them rides in his wheelchair. He will be greatly missed. A celebration of Kelly's life will be held on Saturday, January 10th, at 10 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 23 Brigham Lane, Amherst, MA, 01002. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The LDS Missionary Fund, c/o Bishop Hatch, 66 Flat Hills, Amherst, MA 01002 "