Cdr Patrick Lee Blair (Ret.)

Commander Patrick Lee. Blair USCG (Ret.)
July 19, 1946-September 23, 2025
Patrick was born on July 19, 1949 to Walter Lee Blair and Nellie Margret (Crafton) Blair in Scott's Bluff, Nebraska. Shortly after his birth the family moved back to Springfield, Missouri. He slipped the survey bonds of earth to join his Lord Jesus at 0255 hours on September 23, 2025.
Patrick grew up in Springfield, Mo and attended Springfield Public Schools, graduating from Hillcrest High School. As a boy he played many sports but baseball was his passion and he always felt himself lucky to have been able to attend the Micky Owen Baseball School and to have been coached by the great Dick Birmingham at Hillcrest during his high school years. After high school graduation he attended then Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State) and found a new and life long passion..Aviation. He became a private pilot in record time and soon, through hard study, work and hours and hours in the air, he became a flight instructor pilot. He taught many Springfieldians to fly at the downtown and the municipal airports.
In 1968 Patrick enlisted in the United States Army. He was a 1969 graduate of the Field Artillery Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma with Class 22-69. He then went on to attend the Army flight schools at Mineral Wells, Texas and Fort Rucker, Alabama and qualified in the Huey UH-1 helicopters. After a short stateside assignment, he was deployed too the Republic of South Vietnam and flew extremely dangerous missions inserting and extracting Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols and Special Operations Group Forces far behind enemy lines. He was cited and decorated for his intrepidness, valor and dedication to the mission multiple times during his tour.
After his combat tour in Vietnam he returned to the United States and left the Army to again teach others the joy of flying in Springfield. His performance, dedication to safety and excellence and vast experience made him a valuable asset to his students.. and to the United States Army who pursued him with constant offers, finally making him one he could not refuse. He went back in the Army, returned to school and holds a graduate degree in Aviation / Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Later, while stationed at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, he accepted another offer. This time the United States Coast Guard was offering. Having always wanted to fly jet aircraft, Patrick accepted the offer and branch transferred from the United States Army accepting a commission as a United States Coast Guard Aviation Officer. Patrick served at Coast Guard Air Stations on Cape Cod, Astoria, Oregon, New York City, The Pentagon and finally, Traverse City, Michigan where he retired at the rank of Commander. During his service he flew routine helicopter operations, dangerous Air/Sea rescue operations, transitioned to piloting the Coast Guard's jet engine fixed wing aircraft and was the project officer developing a new generation of Air/Sea rescue helicopters for the Coast Guard at The Pentagon.
After His retirement he returned to Springfield as the Corporate Aviation Officer at O'Rielly Automotive. He flew and managed all of the corporate aviation assets including aircraft, pilots and other personnel for many years before retiring to fly fish Ozark streams and creeks for trout, shoot pheasants behind amazing gun dogs, hobby farm "The Lodge" collect stamp, travel, and enjoy life.
Throughout all his adventures in the sky there was one constant always there when he landed. Ladonna Gail (Stockstill) Blair was always there waiting for him on the tarmac through lean times as a civilian flight instructor, Army schooling, Vietnam, windswept Coast Guard Air Stations and the rigors and adventures of New York City. She was there, the exceptional American military spouse serving the country right alongside her husband. Pat and Ladonna were married November 2, 1969, and had 56 years of happiness together before her untimely passing on September 14, 2025, just nine days before Pat. She was surely there, smiling a heavenly smile, waiting for Pat.
God, Duty, Honor and Country. Patrick lived those words, and they were truly integrated into his soul. He lived with a quiet organized reverence, selflessly serving. We respect, celebrate, study, emulate and recommend his exemplary life.
High Flight
By John Gillespie Magee Jr.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds,-and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of-wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew-
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God
Patrick was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Nellie Blair, and his wife, LaDonna Blair. He is survived by his brother, LTC Robert Blair USA (Ret.) and his wife Heather of Springfield Mo, his cousin, Ruth Crafton-Barker and husband Bill of Bolivar and Sister-in-Law Teresa Herrin of Springfield Mo, Nephews, Samuel Blair of Springfield Mo, Noah Blair of Koloa, Kauai, Joseph Herrin of Springfield Mo, Peter Herrin of Washington, and niece Ruth Herrin of Singapore, Nephews Sam Johnson of Marshfield, Mo, Ben Johnson of Washington St, and niece Sarah Robinson of Springfield, Mo. Step Nephews, Ryan Neas of Springfield Mo, Jacob Snow of Smithfield, North Carolina, Keaton Snow of Springfield Mo. And beloved canine companion Zoey and canine nephew Walter (His namesake Pat & Bob's Father.)