Joy Elizabeth Blair

Joy E. Blair was a talented writer, traveler, nature enthusiast, wife, mother, and animal lover. She passed peacefully in the early morning hours of Wednesday, March 2, 2023, at the age of 82. She was surrounded by family and her cherished pets.

The fifth and final child of Thomas and Ida Lou (Harris) Patterson, she was the first to be born in a hospital. As an avid genealogist she would insist her siblings be listed: Robert Allen Patterson, Edyith Cottle, Ira Gene Patterson and Lula Elaine Creager. They all proceeded her in death. As a tribute to her beloved Elaine she once wrote:

“You had to leave early, and after decades of your absence I still stare longingly at the door that closed behind you. I know it will open again and I will follow you, as I always did, and you will welcome me with open arms, as you always did.”

If you close your eyes, you can picture that family reunion surrounded by a sea of dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles, birds, and numerous other animals that she adored, rescued, and nursed back to health.

A 1958 graduate of Treadwell High School (go Eagles), she was an active member of the reunion luncheons, writing the newsletter, and thrived keeping in touch with classmates. During her high school years, she played French horn in the band, a talent she carried with her to Memphis State University (go Tigers), where she played in the marching band. She graduated from MSU in 1962 with a degree in English.

Born October 25, 1940, just three days after her future husband, Jack Blair, and in the same hospital, she married him January 19, 1964, in San Angelo, Texas. It was a love destined to be as they attended school together, starting in first grade but not dating until college. Scheduled to marry in December of 1963, an epic Memphis ice storm cancelled those plans. Jack, an Air Force Sargeant, had to return to base. Famously, in January, Joy decided she was tired of waiting, took a bus to Texas and called him from a pay phone when she arrived. They were married days later. When she made up her mind, nothing could stand in her way.

Ten months later, their honeymoon baby arrived. A blue eyed girl they named Jennifer Joy.

Within a few years, Joy and Jenny followed Jack to his post in Ankara Turkey. Two years there were followed by a two-year return to San Angelo, Texas. In 1971, they arrived in Anchorage, Alaska for a four-year stint. It was there that Joy landed a position as the Assistant Editor of Alaska Magazine, a job that combined her skills as a writer and a new love, photography. She traversed The Land Of The Midnight Sun, panning for gold, covering indigenous peoples' celebrations and participating in dog sled races. It was a grand time.

More adventure awaited when Jack was stationed to Crete, Greece. Joy studied Greek culture ahead of time and created flashcards to aid the family in learning the language. Upon arrival, she felt a deep connection with the Greek people and their history. On base, she created the Photography Club and organized a photo exhibit to be displayed during the Bi-Centinela Celebration. Three years later it was time to move to Jack’s last assignment before retirement, Ft. Meade, Maryland.

Eighteen months later the family returned to Memphis, this time for good. Joy found work as a copywriter at The Archer Malmo Agency, then moved to Good Advertising. At both agencies she created award winning materials for a number of high profile clients. She especially liked working with doctors or medical facilities. This is being written, knowing she would have rewritten it and made it so much better.

MS and later lymphoma slowed her down in retirement but only physically. She pursued her many loves; genealogy, her constant quest for knowledge, her love of research, realty crime shows (especially Joe Kenda), politics (Democrat by birth and choice), photography, spirituality, thrillers and supernational novels, poodles, the natural world and all that live in it, serial killers, her yard...the list goes on. She was an excellent conversationalist, witty, usually smarter than anybody in the room and loved a good debate.

She leaves behind her husband of fifty-nine years, Jack Blair, her blue eyed honeymoon baby, Jennifer Joy Blair, Dancer (dog), Sunny (dog), Adonis (cat), Apollo (cat) and four grand kitties.

A celebration of Joy's life will begin at four o'clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, March 8 at the Memphis Funeral Home on Poplar Avenue, 5599 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38119. Family & friends will gather one hour prior and after the service.

And she would scold this writer if she forgot to mention that lilies are poisonous to pets. Please don’t include them in any flower arrangements.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralPoplar.com for the Blair family.