Artell Estell Blair

Artell Estell Loggins Blair went to meet her Lord and Savior Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011, at the age of 89. She was born in Birmingham, Ala., to Martin Luther and Canara Irene Loggins. The family moved to Vernon, Texas, in 1923. She attended school at Rockcrossing and graduated from Oklaunion High School. She married Willie Dee Blair in 1939, and had three children: Kenneth, David and Annette. The family resided in Vernon, Texas, until they moved to Carlsbad, N.M., in 1955.
Artell began working at St. Francis Hospital in 1955, and worked there until 1969, when St. Francis and Memorial hospitals merged. She transferred to Northgate unit to be in charge of the emergency room. When the new hospital, Carlsbad Medical, opened, she worked in several departments until 1979, when she resigned and went to work for the state in setting up the Women and Infant Nutrition Program. She retired from there in 1992.
She is a past member of Order of Eastern Star, Moose Lodge, NM State Retirees Association, and a member of AARP. She was a Baptist and attended Paradise Valley Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son; and a daughter; a grandson, Bryan; one sister; and three brothers. She is survived by on brother, Billy Loggins of Houston, Texas; a son, Kenneth and wife, Glenda; seven grandchildren: Bruce Blair, Karinda Blair, Annette Hardin and David, Shayne, Jonathan and Joseph Blair; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Per her request, cremation has already taken place. Memorial services will be held at a later date.