Blair, Hazel Irene Arnette

Hazel Irene Arnette Blair, 92, of 903 North Jefferson Avenue, Pulaski, died peacefully in her sleep following complications of a surgical operation which began in Pulaski, at the Lewis Gale Hospital, Salem in the presence of her son, John Anthony “Tony” Blair, and her pastor, the Reverend Hugh Kilgore. Born in Saltville on December 29, 1919, she was preceded in death by her father, Samuel Lewis Arnette, and mother, Dollie May Powell Arnette; three sisters, Virgie Gilmore, Lucille “‘Cille” Spencer, and Edythe Hays; four brothers, Prince Albert “Bud,” Clarence, William, and Ronald Arnette; nephews Robert Swanton and Paul Arnette; and niece, Marie Arnette Taylor. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Ralph Jerome “Pat” Blair. The length of her survival was greater than that any of her siblings or parents. Pat Blair reached the age of 93. Besides her son, Tony, she is survived by her sister-in-law, Margaret Grimes; nieces, Ann Blair, Sue Blair Murphy, Roberta Lee Grimes Clay, Patricia Hays-Tingley, and Dianne York; nephews, Jeffrey and Larry Arnett; and numerous great and great-great-nephews and nieces. Hazel is probably one of the last living people to have experienced the historic Saltville muck dam disaster on Christmas Eve, 1924, when she was four. Because her father was called out along with other employees, she screamed for her daddy and was only calmed down when allowed to open one Christmas present in advance. In Saltville, Hazel was always an above average student. She graduated in 1937 as salutatorian of her class. After graduation, she attended Emory and Henry College for two years. With the death of her father in 1940, her life changed, and she transferred to Strayer Business College in Washington, D.C. where she studied and enjoyed business courses. She also helped with the 1940 U.S. Census in the District of Columbia. After her education, she got an opportunity to come back to Saltville to work for what was then Appalachian Electric Power Company. In a short while, she got an opportunity to work for the same company in Pulaski, where her sister, Lucille, and brother-in-law, John Spencer, lived. One day her sister introduced her to a nice man from the power company named Pat Blair. On May 26, 1942, she married Pat and formed a relationship that ultimately lasted nearly 61 years until Pat’s death in 2003. Of course, 1942 was also the year the United States was getting heavily involved in World War II. Because of the war, Pat was called to serve in Egypt for nearly two and a half years. Because Pat was still in the active army when his overseas service ended, she joined him while they had assignments that took them to cities such as Chattanooga and Vicksburg. Finally, they moved back to Pulaski where Pat finished his career at Appalachian Power Company. They spent the rest of their lives in Pulaski. Their son, Tony, was born in Radford and raised in Pulaski. Hazel was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Pulaski, where she was active in the United Methodist Women and many other activities of the church. She was active in the PTA, the Band Boosters, and the Junior Woman’s Club. She was the last Charter Member of the Eastern Star in Pulaski. In the 1950’s she chaired the Junior Women’s Club Follies. She served as a very thorough treasurer for numerous organizations. Hazel was known for her almost constant smile, her love of children and small animals, and her humor. When asked how she felt she said, “Well, I can’t hear, I can’t see, and everything hurts, but otherwise I feel fine.” There must have been hundreds if not thousands of babies, each of whom was the cutest baby she had ever seen. Hazel will be sorely missed by her family and many friends. A Celebration of Life will be held at 5 p.m. on Friday, October 26, 2012, after visitation from 4 to 5 p.m. A reception will be held in the Family Life Center of the church after the services. Those wishing to honor her memory may send gifts and donations to the First United Methodist Church, 304 Fourth St., Pulaski, VA 24301.