Maggie passed away on March 20, 2013, accompanied by her four loving children. Maggie was born in Flint, Michigan, and spent her early life there as an only child. The family moved to Tucson, Arizona, in 1946. Maggie attended the University of Arizona where she was a member of the CHI OMEGA Sorority. She graduated from the University of Arizona in 1950 with a BA degree. Shortly after graduating from the UofA she moved to Yuma and married Carl Blair. Maggie and Carl started a family in Yuma and had four children together. Maggie worked as a bookkeeper for a few well established businesses at the beginning of her career.
In the early 1960's Maggie decided to become a teacher and went back to school to acquire her teaching certificate driving to El Centro two nights a week to take classes while teaching at Saint Francis Catholic School. Upon certification she became an 8th grade Language Arts Teacher at Fourth Avenue Junior High where she was in charge of student council and became a highly respected and dedicated teacher who touched the lives of countless people in Yuma. Maggie taught school at Fourth Avenue Junior High School for 24 years and was directly responsible for mentoring her students to pursue the dreams and aspirations they otherwise may have thought unachievable.
Maggie and Carl square danced from the 1960's through the 1970's with the Yuma Starlighter Square Dance Club making many lifelong friends.
Upon retirement Maggie got involved with the Assistance League of Yuma and continued to help children with her work preparing clothing for the thrift store.
She was an active member of the Lady Elks and served as president, scholarship chairperson and was a past sweetheart.
Maggie is survived by her four children, Diane (Mark) Hansberger, Lynne (Mike) Pancrazi, Danelle (Dane) Palmer and Dan Blair; grandchildren, Angela (Moses) Moreno, Dwight (Sarah) Palmer, Dale (Kasey) Palmer, Dru Palmer; great-grandchildren, Madison Moreno, Michael Moreno and Byron Bud Palmer. She is preceded in death by her husband, Emery Carlton Blair (husband and father of her children)who passed in 1979 and Russell B. Anderson (devoted husband from 1989 to 2012), Minnie Daniel (mother), Lynn (Dan) Daniel (father).
Services will be held Monday, March 25, 2013, at 1:00 pm, First United Methodist Church located at 298 W. 3rd Street. A reception will follow at the Yuma Elks Lodge #476 located at 2300 S. Elks Lane.
Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to the Assistance League of Yuma, Yuma Elks Lodge #476 Ladies Auxiliary or Hospice of Yuma.
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