John Robert Blair

OBITUARY FOR JOHN ROBERT (J.R.) BLAIR John Robert (J.R.) Blair - age 84 of Sweetwater, went to his Heavenly Home on Saturday, March 3, 2007. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Sweetwater as well as the Berean Sunday School class and produced the church's radio broadcast for many years. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Mr. Blair was also a longtime member of the American Legion Post 106. Mr. Blair owned and operated Blair's TV and Radio Repair Service. He was a radio broadcaster and served as president of McMinn Broadcasters, Inc., WCPH (Etowah). He was also associated with other area radio stations: WOKE (Oak Ridge), WRKH (Rockwood), and WDEH (Sweetwater). As Communications Engineer for the City of Sweetwater, Mr. Blair designed, installed, and maintained the communications centers for the Police Department and the Sweetwater Utilities Board. He also installed the present 911 Emergency system for Monroe County. He was one of the county's first Ham Radio operators (W4LER). He was a devoted husband, father, and friend, having lived in Sweetwater all of his life. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Murphy and Mamie Elizabeth Cansler Blair and stepmother, Mary Lee Farmer Blair; brother, Ralph Murphy Blair; and sister, Hazel Blair Thompson. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Pauline Tate Blair; daughter and son-in-law, Judy Blair and Dr. William Chandler (Bill) Wilson, Jr. of Knoxville; grandsons, William 'Chandler' Wilson, III and his wife, Kimberly of Knoxville and Alexander Blair (Alex) Wilson and his wife, Laura of Canton, North Carolina; one great-granddaughter, Chloe Brooke Wilson, and one niece and several nephews. The family greatly appreciates the compassionate care given by Sweetwater Home Health and Dr. Thomas Evans. The family will receive friends at Kyker Funeral home from 6:00-8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 and the funeral service will follow with the Rev. Phil Holmes and Rev. Jeff Smith officiating. Interment will be Wednesday, March 7, 2007 at 11:00 A.M. at Sweetwater Memory Gardens. The Sweetwater Police Department and Sweetwater Fire Department will serve as honorary pallbearers. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Sweetwater, 303 Wright Street, Sweetwater, TN 37874.

John Robert Blair

May 8, 1922 - March 3, 2007