Barbara Deane Blair

Barbara Deane Blair, 84, of Fresno, California, passed away peacefully in her sleep, listening to her idol Barbra Streisand on Monday, January 04, 2021 at her home surrounded by her beloved and doting husband of 62 years, Robert Lacy Blair and their 2 daughters, Dina Blair and Kelly Blair Blankenship.

Bobbie as she was known to all her family and friends, is survived by Robert “Bob” Blair, husband, Dina Blair, her “favorite” West Coast daughter and her husband Aaron McDonald, and her “favorite” East Coast daughter Kelly Blair Blankenship and her husband, Terry Blankenship. She is also survived by her loving and ever adored grandchildren, Brandon Michael Blankenship and his wife Mary Chandler Blankenship, and Caitlyn Lacey Blankenship.

Barbara Deane White was born on April 15, 1936 in Oakland, California to Dean Albert White and Grace Wray.

Her family moved to Napa, California in 1943 and then to Santa Rosa, California in 1948 and she graduated from Santa Rosa High School in 1954.

A friend of Bob’s introduced him to Bobbie in late November 1957. Bobbie married Robert “Popeye” Lacy Blair on October 20, 1958. She was his biggest cheerleader as they traveled around when Bob was playing baseball. They lived in Pocatello, ID, Eugene, Oregon then settled down in Fresno in September

1960 where he played ball with the Fresno Giants.

All she wanted in life was to be married and be a mom to two girls. She got her wish on August 03, 1963 when Dina Lynn Blair was born and again on October 13, 1964 with the birth of Kelly Elizabeth Blair.

Bobbie was the Norman Rockwell Mom. She was quite the seamstress and sewed most of their clothes. She took pride in having an immaculately clean house and was always put together. She would never leave the house unless she had the perfect outfit (with matching jewelry), hair and makeup complete. She had a balanced/nutritious meal every night at 6:00pm for her family without fail.

She was heavily involved in her daughter’s lives by volunteering at their schools in the classroom and on the playground, with softball by being the manager/scorekeeper/team mom/cheerleader, and a proud band mom.

Everyone who met Bobbie loved her and she loved them. She was the most loving and generous person with a great sense of humor and big heart. She loved cooking and baking for her family and friends, her lunch/shopping trips with Marilyn Astin on Tuesdays, Bob and Bobbie’s yearly trips to see Bob and Betty Wales in Seattle and the lake house, taking Irene Stinson to her hair appointment on Fridays, and many other countless activities with friends too numerous to mention. She loved it all!

Bobbie enjoyed playing cards. She belonged to a Canasta club. She and Bob used to play cards every Saturday night with a very close family friend and previous teammate, Jim Myers and his wife, Judy. Their girls, Terrilyn, Karen, and Kristi were instant sisters to Dina and Kelly. Sometimes while playing cards with the Myers, Bobbie would invoke “Blair rules” so she would have the advantage of winning.

Her friend Debbie Spence introduced Bobbie to Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Clovis, California where she was baptized on March 11, 2013. A few days before her passing, her pastor, Pastor Ed visited her at her bedside and prayed for and with her. He asked Bobbie what the first thing she will do when she arrives in Heaven. “Look for a milkshake stand!” Pastor Ed asked her, “…then you’re going to look for Jesus?” “After I look for a Big Mac”, was her reply.

Bobbie will be missed by so many close friends and family. And she will always be remembered for her never-ending love and devotion for her family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you please have a milkshake, root beer float or a McDonald’s Big Mac or cheeseburger in her honor.

At Bobbie’s request, no service or viewing will be held.