James A. Blair

James A. Blair, 79, of Shrewsbury died Saturday, November 10th in UMAss Memorial Medical Center -University Campus after a short illness.

He leaves his beloved and cherished wife of 57 years, Linda (Steur) Blair, a sister, Beatrice McKim and her husband, Daniel of South Attleboro, MA; Sister-in-Law, Irma Lespasio and her husband, Ralph of Shrewsbury; also survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his mother, Josephine (Hunninghacker) and a sister, Marjorie Bedard.

Mr. Blair was born on December 25, 1927 in Forest Hills section of Jamaica Plain, in Boston, and schooled in Jamaica Plain and went to Farm and Trade School on Thompson Island. He joined the Merchant Marines in 1944 and the U.S. Army in 1945 where he served in Germany for 4 years as a member of the Occupation Force. In 1950, Jimmy married the love of his life, Linda in Augsburg, Germany.

Jimmy worked for several companies as a Tool & Die Maker. He later had been employed for RCA and Digital, he retired from Digital in 1990 as a Support Engineer.

He was a dedicated Mason and Shriner. Masonry and the Shrine was a major part of his life. He was a member of the Matthew John Whittall Lodge A.F. & A.M. in Shrewsbury and was the proud recipient of the Joseph Warren Medal in 1994. He was the Past President and Director of the Worcester Shrine Club, where he served as chairman of the Transportation Committee and the Membership Committee. He also loved to ride his Minikar in all the parades that the Shriners were invited to.

His other achievements and memberships include, receiving the Robert Gardner Wilson, Jr. Medal; Past President of the Acacia Club and Past President of the Germania Club in Worcester; Associate Board Member at the Shriners Hospital for Children; Past Chairman for the Parades in Charlton; member of Aleppo Shriners A.A.O.N.M.S. and was Adjutant at Aleppo; member of the Northborough Acacia Club; member of the Scottish Rites and a member of the Fitchburg Shrine Club.

Relatives and friends of Jim's may visit with his family on Tuesday, November 13th from 5-8 P.M. in the Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, 648 Main Street, Shrewsbury. A Masonic ritual for Jim will take place at 7:00 P.M. Funeral services for Jim will be held on Wednesday, November 14th at 11 A.M. in the funeral home. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury. In lieu of flowers, memorial donation in his memory can b made to the Worcester County Shrine Club Transportation Fund, c/o Arthur E. Curtis, R-211, 88 Masonic Home Road, Charlton, MA 01507. For directions and Jim's personal online memorial guestbook, please visit,

brittonfuneralhomes.com