Fairburn Blow

Fairburn was born on August 23, 1935, in Sayre, PA. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Burton, of 66 years; her mother, Lillian (Stevens) Newcomer; her stepfather, Ralph Newcomer; her father, Basil Davis; her son Timothy J. Blow, and great grandson, Brock Wright.

Fairburn is survived by her children, Steven (Phyllis) Blow of Albany; Randy Blow of MS; Daniel (Teresa) Blow of Waverly; Laura (Kelvin) Rice of SC; Suzanne (Bob) Blow of FL; David (Tara) Blow of Millport; Joshua Blow of Albany; her daughter in law, Genevieve Blow of TX; her brother, Benjamin (Priscilla) Davis of Athens; her sister-in-law, Janey Douglas of Gillette; and brother-in-law, David C. Blow of SC. Fourteen grandchildren, James Blow, Matthew (Melanie) Blow, Shianne (Zack) Girion, Jessica (Joe) Lucas, Adrian (Tami) Blow, Stacy (Gary) Blow, Joni (Matthew) Livingston, Megan (Nathan) Lester, Samuel (Meredith) Farnham, Ashley (Nick) Simpson, Zachary (Miranda) Beeman, Mandy (Josh) Beeman, Tyler Beeman, and Jillian Blow. Nineteen great grandchildren; Jessie, Malachi, Noah, Chloe, Dylan, Nevaeh, Olivia, Lillian, Jordan, Gracelyn, Trenton, Asher, Micah, Keegan, Elijah, Avery, Julian, Lainie and Lillie. Fairburn’s twentieth great grandchild is expected in December.

Fairburn lived in the Valley for most of her life, graduating from Athens High School in 1953. After graduation she married Burton, became a homemaker and wonderful mother to her eight children. She also worked part time for many years at Dr. Brown’s Vision Center in Sayre, retiring in 2002. In their golden years, Burton and Fairburn lived in a cabin on Weaver Road, that was built by Burton and many of his sons. Fairburn attended Christian Life Church where she played the piano and organ, was a missionary secretary, and member of the prayer council. For many years, Fairburn and her husband, along with Stacia and Henry McGruder, and Pastor Curt Carter were active in the Prison Ministry, visiting Elmira Correctional Facility and Southport Prison. Fairburn also headed a Bible Study for the women in Chemung County Prison.

Although Fairburn loved her daughters, granddaughters and great granddaughters, she was definitely a “boy mom” and would light up whenever she saw her sons, grandsons and great-grandsons, many of whom argued that they were her “favorite”. Many smiles and laughter were brought into “Grammy’s” life in the past 17 months by her twin great-granddaughters, Lainie and Lillie. Fairburn enjoyed faithfully reading her Bible, and also fiction with historical and religious themes. Fairburn had resided for the last 2 ½ years with her daughter, Laura, and son-in-love, Kelvin Rice, in Irmo, SC. Where recently she’d been dreaming more and more about her husband and about seeing Jesus. She wanted all to know Him as she does.

Many thanks to the wonderful nurses and caregivers at The Carroll Campbell Place and the hospice team at MSA Home Health & Hospice in Irmo, SC.

Per her wishes, no memorial service is planned at this time.