Gerald C. Blair

Gerald C. Blair December 30, 1930 - September 18, 2016 San Diego Gerald C. Blair (Gerry) died Sunday, September 18, 2016 at his home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. He is survived by his second wife Beverly, a son Gerald C. Blair, Jr., a granddaughter Stephanie, grandsons Sean and Geoffry, and three great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held October 1 in Flagstaff, AZ.Gerry's main occupation as a younger man was in law enforcement. He became a member of the Police Department in Phoenix after a tour of duty in the Navy, holding several different jobs, and in August of 1952, a marriage to his first wife Ann Coveny. Besides being a reliable and successful police officer, Gerry was a trophy winner on the police pistol team. About three years later, he joined the Arizona Highway Patrol and was stationed with his family in various parts of the state. Gerry rose to the position of Zone Commander of Northern Arizona and was headquartered in Flagstaff where he built the family home on N. Paradise Rd.Gerry grew up in the outdoors, was experienced in trapping and hunting, and was the provider of venison and other game for the family table. Such activities were a lifetime interest and pastime. After retirement from the Highway Patrol, with more time to devote to those pursuits, he enjoyed photography and writing about his activities. Gerry won national acclaim for the largest elk taken in Arizona and he was influential in helping to spread knowledge about the characteristics and proper use of guns, the differences and useful varieties of predator calling equipment, and the many other aspects of successful hunting. He was respected for his well-written books and magazine articles, and his special skill in predator calling was the subject of his last book.Gerry was also an enthusiastic gem and mineral collector. He visited most of the mineral sources in Arizona and a few in Mexico. His book "Rockhounding Arizona," and articles in related magazines, helped many another avid collector find interesting material to turn into jewelry, carvings or other items. Many times he judged cabochon entries in local "rock show" competitions. It was through this hobby that Gerry met his second wife Beverly in 2003. Both practiced lapidary and silver working and enjoyed visiting many turquoise mines in Nevada, Arizona and Colorado, plus attending major gem & mineral shows. They chose a home in Lake Havasu City, half way between Gerry's family in Flagstaff and Beverly's in San Diego, where they lived up to the present.Gerry will be remembered for his humor and his articulate sharing of information in many books and articles which will be enjoyed by generations of others interested in similar pursuits. He will be sorely missed by the many people he inspired and who knew him as the vibrant, interesting, and friendly person he always was.