Gertrude "Trudy" Blair

Gertrude “Trudy” Blair was born on May 9, 1918 in Hunt County, Texas to William Benjamin and May (Griffin) Stamper.

She was the last surviving blood relative of her Stamper Family, pioneers in the Grand Prairie, Texas area. Her grandfather was a well-known mid 18oo’s land owner and cattleman. Trudy maintains the original handdrawing of his patented 1903 plow.

Trudy and Bob Blair met while both were working at DuPont in Orange, during the middle 1950’s. They married and built the home she was still living in at the time of her death. Both were very private people, yet they served on various committees of their church in Orange. She has been a member of First United Methodist Church since 1950. Trudy and Bob loved to fish at their Lake Sam Rayburn compound. They were longtime leaders of the Orange Power Squadron, teaching boating safety. Trudy’s interests included bird watching and documenting migratory habit and reporting internationally. She enjoyed the research of family genealogy and her knowledge of Flora and Fauna influenced many in Orange County; particularly, Carole Schultz Nance’s organization of Orange County’s public and private landscaping. She annually donated her favorite plants to her church fall bazaar. Trudy was an avid collector of antiques. Trudy was an oil on canvas artist, traveling several times to Santa Fe, New Mexico, for benefits of scenery and lessons.

Trudy passed away on Friday, November 22, 2013, in Orange, very typically and privately as she lived her life, and very peacefully with her Lord. After Bob’s death in 1983, she closely and privately shared her life with Carole and Louis Nance, their children and spouses, Cara Louise and Timmy Campbell, Lowell and Sheryl Nance, and grandsons, Kody Campbell and Cameron Nance.

She is preceded in death by her parents and husband, Bob; brother and sister-in-law, William Travis and Marie Stamper. She is survived by Carole and Louis Nance and family and Gary Phillips of Fort Worth.

Funeral services will be 2pm, Friday, November 29, 2013, at Claybar Funeral Home Chapel in Orange. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens near Bridge City.

Visitation will begin at 1pm, Friday at the funeral home.

Serving as pallbearers will be Lowell Nance, Cameron Nance, Timmy Campbell, Kody Campbell, Bill Shults, and Michael Hoke. Honorary pallbearers are Walter Riedel, Barbara Riddick, Darby Byrd, and Dale Phillips.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent in Trudy’s name to Shangri La Botanical Gardens’ bench fund; 2111 West Park Ave, Orange, Texas 77630, (409) 670-9113.