Barbara Jean Blair

Barbara Jean Blair (89) passed away on March 22nd, 2025, at Monte Vista Health Care Center in Pocatello, Idaho.

She was born on September 4th, 1935, in Carthage, Missouri, to Pauline Retha Morris, and raised by her grandparents Earl and May Morris. They all moved to the Northern California area when she was a young child, and she eventually relocated to Southern California (Venice Beach) approximately 1950.

Barbara married her 1st husband Dale Peterson in 1951, and they had their first son Frank Peterson. In 1954, their son Michael Peterson was born, and in 1957, their daughter Carol Peterson (Pittman) was born.

In 1966, she married her 2nd husband James Kelly Blair, and they had their first daughter Kelly Blair (Bernard). They relocated to the San Fernando Valley in 1967, and in 1969 they had their second daughter Karen Blair.

Barbara worked her whole life, mostly in the San Fernando Valley in production for the data systems industry. She also worked some in the food service industry, including working for her son Michael, running a cafeteria in the Van Nuys Courthouse. Barbara retired from Ronan Systems in 2012, and relocated to Pocatello, Idaho, in 2016, with her daughter Kelly Bernard and Son-in-Law Bryan Bernard.

Barbara has 7 grandchildren, Kevin Bunch, Eric Bunch, Shannon Blair, and Stephanie Blair, Lance Tubbs, Tracie Tubbs (Brown), and Elizabeth Tubbs (Greco), as well as many great-grandchildren. She also appointed herself as 2nd Mom to Colleen Brown.

Barbara loved the horse races, casinos, fast cars (she owned 3 separate Trans Ams), Santa Monica beach, Little Debbie’s cakes, diet coke, Elvis Presley, and a big hairdo. She also loved animals, especially Jack and Chloe, who were Bryan and Kelly’s Springer Spaniels that she claimed as her own. She always would say they were people, too.

Barbara is preceded in death by her mother Pauline, grandparents Earl and May Morris, son Frank Peterson, daughter Carol Pittman, and grandson Lance Tubbs.

She is survived by her children Michael Peterson (spouse Terra), Kelly Bernard (Spouse Bryan), and Karen Blair (spouse Bill Abreu); grandchildren Kevin Bunch, Eric Bunch, Shannon Blair, Stephanie Blair (spouse Catherine Hay), Tracie Brown and Elizabeth Greco, plus all her great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Monte Vista Hills Health Care Center for taking care of Mom, and all their friends and family for the love and support.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please plant a tree or make donations to the Pocatello Animal Shelter in Barbara’s name.