May 10, 2017

Linn County News
Published May 10, 2017
William Lawrence “Larry” Blair, former long-time Linn County Agricultural Extension agent, passed away with family attending, April 8, 2017. He had been residing in Pratt, Kan. He was 86 years old. Larry was born to Lonnie Earl and Della Mae Johnston Blair on June 2, 1930, at their Wagner, Okla., farm. He was the fourth of nine children, with three sisters and five brothers.
Larry graduated from Okay High School in 1949. From there he attended Connors State Agricultural College and then Oklahoma State University at Stillwater, where he graduated in 1954.
He married Peggy LaJune Pride of Boynton, Okla., on May 24, 1952.
He worked for the Iowa Extension Service at Winterset, Iowa, from 1954-1960. The rest of his career was spent in Kansas with the KSU Extension Service at El Dorado, Emporia and then Mound City for 28 years.  He retired in 1992. His county leadership helped develop many of the conveniences enjoyed in Linn County today – rural fire and water districts, zoning, a solid waste disposal system and the first municipal swimming pool in the county.
His wife preceded him in death Aug. 1, 2003. Larry continued to live in Mound City until June 2009, when he moved near his son Mike in Pratt. He continued to be active outdoors.
He is survived by two children, Larry Michael Blair (Chris), Pratt, and Linda Blair Gifford (Don), Topeka; four grandchildren, Jennie Blair Christensen (Paul), Batam, Indonesia, Kaycie Blair Ferrell (Jason), Pratt, Randi Gifford Stones (Rick), Topeka, and Alex Gifford (Molly), Jenks, Okla.; and great-grandchildren, Beau Ferrell, Charlie and Lucy Stones, and Emma and Lucas Gifford. Also surviving are two brothers, Russell Blair of Wagner, Okla., and Kenneth Blair of Albany, Ore.
Services to celebrate Larry’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, 2017, at the Mound City First Baptist Church, 8424 Paine Rd., Mound City, where Larry and Peggy were long-time members. He is interred with his wife at the Mound City Cemetery.
Hospice faithfully attended both Larry and Peggy. Memorial contributions can be sent on their behalf to Interim Healthcare & Hospice, 9920 E. Harry St., Wichita, KS 67207.