Timothy Vernon Blair

A son, Timothy Vernon Blair, was born on July 21, 1952, to the late Vernon Blair and Shirley (Ziegler) Blair in St. Louis, Missouri. He went to his heavenly home on April 7, 2022, in the ICU of Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, at the age of 69 years, 8 months and 17 days.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Shirley (Ziegler) Blair; his father-in-law, Glen Owen Phillips; and nephew, Sean Blair. Tim is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Pamelia (Phillips) Blair of the home in Conway, Arkansas; daughter, Kayla Lyn (Blair) Fadely of Vilonia, Arkansas; two grandchildren, Lucas Andrew Fadely and Lillian Avery Fadely both of Vilonia, Arkansas; two sisters, Janet Blair and Patricia (Blair) Richardson (Kenny), all of St. Louis, Missouri; two nieces, Sydney Porter of St. Peters, Missouri, Anna Blair of St. Louis, Missouri; nephew, Shane Porter of Troy, Missouri; two great-nephews, Raymond Sinks Jr. and Kameron Vitale of St. Louis, Missouri; and many friends. 

Tim was born and raised in South St. Louis. He graduated from SouthWest High School in June of 1969. He was then drafted into the US Army for the Vietnam War in 1970. He completed his boot camp training in Fort Leonard Wood, MO and was then sent to the United States Army Base in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Upon completion of his requirement and 1 year, 11 months and 26 days of Active Duty Service, Tim returned to his home in St. Louis, MO. After serving his country, Tim then attended Ranken Technical College to obtain his electrician's license. While attending school at RTC, he was offered a job at McDonnell Douglas in North St. Louis. After accepting the job offer, Tim relocated to North St. Louis where he would live for many years working as a Quality Engineer Inspector. It was shortly thereafter on Oct. 10, 1982, when Tim would meet his soon to be wife, Pam. On May 11, 1985, they were to be married and start their life together. They were blessed with their first and only child, Kayla, in February of 1987. In 1990, Tim lost his job at McDonnell Douglas due to a major company-wide changeover. It was one of the first big layoffs in St. Louis history. Over the next eight years, Tim had many different jobs. He worked for many different companies including but not limited to: FEMA, AEL in Bethalto, Illinois, and Ford Motor Co. In 1998 Tim was offered a position at BEI Precision Systems in Maumelle, Arkansas. He accepted the job after a series of employment changes. It was the first offer in his field of experience with stability and a change of scenery. He left St. Louis and moved to Maumelle leaving his wife and daughter behind before moving the family to a new home. He felt that it was a good fit and embraced this new lifestyle inviting his wife and daughter to join him in Arkansas. Pam and Kayla joined Tim in the fall of 1998 and lived in Little Rock, Arkansas, where they rented a home before purchasing their forever home just months later in Conway, Arkansas, in May of 1999. Over the next 17 years, Tim continued to work at BEI until 2015, when he was yet again laid off just two years before retirement. Upon Doctors orders, Tim was put on disability due to several health conditions that didn't warrant the risk of a stable job. The years to follow were difficult for Tim as he tried to navigate a forceful early retirement. He liked working and being a Quality Engineer and enjoyed the structure of his daily life. 

In 2009 and again in 2017, Tim suffered major heart attacks. After stent placement, he was diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease. On March 13, 2022, Tim was diagnosed with right-lung Pneumonia. After receiving this diagnosis, just 48 hours later he was then also diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He was transferred to Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, AR on March 18 to undergo proper Chemotherapy treatment. On April 7, 2002, Tim started to have hypotension issues which then caused him to go into a cardiac arrest from which he did not recover.

Tim enjoyed his life to the fullest. When he was a young boy he had to stay inside for most of summer because he was very allergic to the outside elements. Tim could be found playing in the basement of his childhood home where it was nice and cool all while listening to the neighborhood kids living out their summer days. He eventually outgrew these allergies and became a true lover of breathing the outside air and "being one with Mother Nature" and all she had to offer. In his early 30's he was an avid river floater. Most of his spring and summer days took place floating down the Current River, camping in a tent and grilling steaks for breakfast over a campfire while enjoying his fresh percolated coffee. In his 40s, the yearn to be outside grew so much, he purchased a Jeep Wrangler. Tim took his Jeep with him everywhere. To work, get ice cream with family and even across the river so "she could get a bath." After moving to Conway, Arkansas, in the late 90s, he soon realized that there was more to appreciate because it stayed warmer, longer. Warmer days meant more time for BBQ's, chopping and splitting wood, Jeep rides and enjoying his new love for gardening. A good day to Tim was coming home from work, getting the grill fired up for a weekday evening feast while holding a cold beer and spending time with his girls; Pam, Kayla and of course his fur babies, Nikita and Shasha. When Tim was in his late 50s, he was blessed with his first grandchild, Lucas. He was so excited to be a grandpa, or as Lucas called him, "Gran-caw." They were thick as thieves and were often referred to as "The Bandana Bros." Tim softened up when his granddaughter Lilly came into the world just 5 years later. She stole his heart and she knows it. Who else would make you an after-school cheese omelet for a snack other than Grandpa? Tim lived a long and very fulfilling life. Even through the tough times he still rolled with the punches and always bounced right back. It took a lot to get him down and he was always smiling and laughing. Although he was taken suddenly, he has left all of those near and dear to him with so many wonderful memories.

Arrangements made with Bishop-Crites Funeral Home, 108 North Broadview Street, Greenbrier, Arkansas 72058, www.bishopcritesfuneralhome.com