Norman Earl Blair

Norman E. Blair passed away April 12, 2012. Norman was born June 20, 1934 in Kansas City, Missouri to Fred and Ina Blair. He was raised in Orland, CA and Delta, CO. After leaving school, he traveled around the country working as a surveyor for a geophysical seismograph company. He was a doodle bugger as he liked to call himself. While working in the Norwood, Colorado area, he met Jeannette Dibler. They were married in Montrose, CO. on December 24, 1955. While moving around the country with a seismic crew, they had four children: Bruce of Lancaster, CA., Norma Jean of Vidor, TX., Byron (Cindy) of Vidor, TX., and Barrett (Andrea) of Highlands Ranch, CO. In 1966, Sun Oil CO. decided they would no longer pay to move their crews, but pay the per diem to work away from home, so they bought 3 acres in Vidor and settled down. Norman worked away from home a few years then he and Jeannette started a mobile home moving and repair business, Bizzy “B” Industries. This gave him the opportunity to help coach his two younger sons' minor league baseball team, the Pirates, to a championship. He eventually went back into the seismic industry as an advisor working in the Arctic, South America, Canada, Tunisia, and most of the U.S.. In 1980, he started his own permitting and surveying business, Prospecting Associates. While working in Alaska in the late 60s, he became involved in the commercial salmon fishing industry eventually buying his own boat, a 32 ft. grill netter, the F.V. Sunshine, in which he operated in Bristol Bay, Alaska. He involved all of his children in the business. In 1996, he sold his permit and closed his business to retire as a full time Grandpa. He and Jeannette enjoyed being at home and working on their place. They loved going to doodle bugger reunions, traveling to see grandkids and helping their children in any way they could. Norman was not frivolous or apt to buy “toys”, but after riding a relatives ATV, he and Jeanette bought their own Honda Rancher and enjoyed exploring the back country together until Jeanette became ill with Alzheimers. Norman never left her side until she passed away on June 18, 2008, two days before his 74th birthday. Norman enjoyed planes and flying but was never a pilot. He also loved wood crafts, hunting, fishing and target shooting and he never passed up a opportunity to go four wheeling. He was preceded in death by his 11 year old sister, father, mother, brother and his loving wife of 52 years. He is survived by all four of his children, seven grandchildren: Joshua, Amanda, Alexia, Allie, Garrett, Shawn, Mariah and one niece. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 Monday, April 16, 2012 at Memorial Funeral Home of Vidor, with burial to follow at Restlawn Memorial Park in Vidor. Visitation will begin at 6:00 pm Sunday, April 15, 2012 at Memorial Funeral Home. Norman was admired and respected by his peers and will loved and missed by his family.