JoAnn Lee Blair

JoAnn Lee Shaw Blair
April 15, 1938 – September 19, 2025

Our hearts are heavy but full of love as we celebrate the life of JoAnn Lee Shaw Blair, who passed away at home surrounded by loved ones on September 19, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. JoAnn was born on April 15, 1938, to William Arnold Shaw and Ida Leila Gallagher Shaw.

She married her sweetheart, Thomas Melvin Blair, on August 3, 1956, and together they shared 69 years of marriage filled with devotion, laughter, and partnership. Tom and JoAnn met at a gas station/car wash where they both worked while in high school, and soon after, married. Together they raised four daughters, Becky, Shauna, Sheryl, and Kori who were their pride and joy.

JoAnn grew up in Salt Lake City. She loved the mountains, the sky, and watching the clouds move and change shapes. When she and Tom were younger they loved camping, winter and summer fishing, bonfires, boating, waterskiing, motorcycle riding, and snowmobiling with family and friends. They both also enjoyed spending time in their rustic cabin in the woods near Monte Cristo where they made many wonderful memories with family and friends, playing cards, riding motorcycles, and staying up late talking and laughing.

In later years, they loved to spend time at their cabin in Bear Lake. They enjoyed spending time with family and friends, boating, fishing and just floating in the boat out in the middle of the lake while listening to music and eating a picnic, all while the brave ones jumped into the ice cold water and went swimming.

JoAnn worked for over thirty years at Albertsons as a bookkeeper, where she became known by many friends and colleagues for her warmth, kindness, caring nature, and work ethic before retiring to focus on her family, fun, and travel.

JoAnn had the opportunity to travel to many great parts of the world with her husband Tom, Kori, Randy, Colleen, Gary, and Dick. They went on cruises and traveled to many corners of the world, and told many great stories of the unforgettable experiences they had. We've heard some pretty funny stories too. Hawaii was an annual trip.

Joann also loved car rides and going anywhere, especially when it came to looking at houses big and small, as well as landscapes and scenery, both spectacular and ordinary. She loved clothes that had sparkle and just loved jewelry. She loved stopping at jewelry stands when at festivals and in shops to buy for herself and others. She loved getting her fingernails and toenails done, and they were always beautiful.

Holidays were JoAnn's masterpiece. She poured her heart into every Christmas and Thanksgiving, making them extraordinary and unforgettable for her children and grandchildren. Her home was always filled with warmth, beautiful decorations, delicious smells and food that made everyone feel welcome and loved. At Christmas time, the tree was surrounded with gifts she had been purchasing all year long.

JoAnn's greatest joy was her family. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren deeply, and she would tell them how much she loved them every time she saw them. Her face would light up whenever people came to visit. JoAnn truly loved people, and she made everyone feel special just by being in her presence. She had a delightful sense of humor and could make everyone laugh and smile.

Even after more then 12 years of living with dementia, she found a way to communicate her love and sense of humor. Her personality always shone through and everyone who met her, loved her. She always smiled and laughed, which made everyone else smile and laugh with her. We sometimes talked about keeping a collection of her comments called "JoAnn Says The Darndest Things". JoAnn was a true pleasure.

JoAnn always loved ice cream, and towards the end when she couldn't eat certain foods, she never turned down a nod of "yes" for ice cream.

JoAnn's life was a shining example of love, generosity, and joy. She had the rare gift of making every person she met feel valued, loved, and appreciated. Though our hearts ache at her passing, we are filled with gratitude for the time we had with her and the memories we will carry forever. She leaves behind a legacy that will continue to guide and inspire us - to find beauty in the everyday, to laugh often, to make every holiday special, and to love without conditions.

Her laughter, her sparkle, and her sweet love will echo in our hearts forever.

The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to her caregivers Kade, Amie, Marleen, Paula, and Terra for the loving care they gave JoAnn.

A special thank you to Rocky Mountain Hospice for their care and support.

JoAnn is survived by her devoted husband, Thomas; daughters Becky Zgraggen, Shauna Zgraggen, Sheryl Nelson (Dave), and Kori Pearce; her cherished grandchildren Elliott Zgraggen (Suzanne), Ben Kempner (Joan), Stephanie Williams (Rob), Jessica Zgraggen, David Nelson, Justin Zgraggen, Josh Nelson, and Amanda Wey (Nick); and nine great-grandchildren James Luke, Zoey Luke, Angelica Tan, Xavier Zgraggen, Oliver Luke, Benjamin Kempner, Rose Davis, Lincoln Zgraggen, and Bella Nelson. nieces and nephews; Chris Keller (Dawn), Jeannie Hauf (Don), Erika Balyo (Scott), Carter Shaw (Rebecca), Richard Blair, Brenda Uffens (Greg), Kenny Blair (Adaire), David Blair (Michelle), and many great nieces and nephews She is also survived by her brother Jay Shaw (Helen) and sister Colleen Dawson (Gary).

She was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother, infant grandson-Daniel Kempner, son-in-law Randy Pearce, and niece Jessie Anum.

A viewing will take place on Monday, October 6th, 2025, at the Grandeur Peak Ward 3510 South 3610 East from 6-8 PM. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 11:00 AM with a viewing one hour prior also at Grandeur Peak Ward. Interment at Elysian Burial Gardens to follow the funeral service.