Grace Bernice Blair

Grace Bernice Blair (Sneesby), 91 passed away on October 16, 2024. Born on November 26, 1932 in Neepawa Manitoba, Grace lived a full and giving life from beginning to end and touched the lives of many people along the way.

Grace began her school years in Winchester, Manitoba before moving to Woodside. She took her Commercial High School in Neepawa and then worked with the Manitoba Telephone System in Neepawa and Gladstone where she was Assistant Chief Operator.

Grace Sneesby married Keith Blair of Woodside, Manitoba in 1954. They took up residence and raised five children on the Blair family farm. Life was busy raising children, gardening, farm work and cashing the cream-can check.

Mom dedicated her life to volunteering (most specifically for children), advocacy for those in need and supporting her community. 

Mom joined both the Grain and Home Ec 4-H clubs, and as a long time member, won many awards at public speaking, demonstrations and displays. Later as a leader, she received a Certificate of Merit award and became a 4-H achievement judge at the club, district and rally level. Mom was a member and prolific contributor in the Gladstone Agricultural Society, winning the Rose Bowl many times for her entries. She received her accreditation to be a judge for rural agriculture fairs in the Province of Manitoba.

Mom’s many community support roles included costume designer for the local high school musicals and a participant, supporter and helper for the Music and Arts in Gladstone. She also spent many hours organizing the catering of funerals and community social events. She was secretary/treasurer for the Woodside School District and was a collector for the Red Cross which resulted in a Certificate of Merit. 

Through her church affiliation, mom wore many hats. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible, was a camp councillor and cook. She was a member and treasurer of the Neepawa/Gladstone Christian Women’s Club. 

Mom was a member of the Gladstone Advisory Committee to determine programming for women in the Gladstone Agricultural District. A highlight was being nominated by the Manitoba Farm Women’s Network and to be included in their book profiling Manitoba Women in Agriculture.

Mom was instrumental in fund-raising for the Gladstone community hall. She served as secretary, organized events and did just whatever was needed. In 2011, mom was awarded the Austin Credit Union Citizen of the Year award.

Mom’s career of advocacy and helping others began when her sister was paralyzed from polio and she was given the task of caring for her. Bullying even existed in those days and mom became a scrapper. She received the Eaton’s Good Deed Club Award for the care of her sister.

Mom’s concern for children prompted her to join the Gladstone Royal Purple No. 119 MB, in 1953. Over the years she participated in and chaired many committees, and many time held offices at the local, district and provincial level. All of this devoted work culminated in 1995 with her being elected to the highest Office of the Royal Purple, Supreme Honoured Royal Lady, National President. This role saw her travel all across Canada in her endeavour to promote her theme “Charity”. She thought of charity as being a state of mind where you are unselfish and give freely of your time, friendship and loyalty to each other.

Charity begins at home, and Mom has left a legacy of five children, twelve grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren in which she has passed on her recipes for a healthy life style. A key motto was to keep her children busy involved in the community and volunteer work. Family was important to Mom and as a grandma, she passed on her talents and a wealth of experiences, most of all, how to have empathy and to advocate for others. 

She demonstrated her strength by surviving polio, asthma, and near-death bouts of COVID. Her zest for life was demonstrated by continually learning and adapting to her changing world. At ninety years old she published a children’s book dedicated to a lonely child.

Mom will be lovingly remembered for her quick wit and dry sense of humour. She often used to say regarding her children, ‘they were fine when they left home’.

She was a great debater who did not ‘suffer fools lightly’ and yet always kept an open mind. 

Predeceased by:

Husband: Keith Robertson Blair

Parents: Albert and Jean Sneesby

Brothers: Charles (Jean), Arthur, Argyle (Bessie), Bruce, Augus (Lori)

Sisters: Thelma Andersen, Barbara (Mervyn) Kelly, Beatrice, Darlene, Doris (Lorne) Buchanan, Phyllis Walker

Sister-in-law: Jackie Sneesby

Survived by: brother Gerald, sister-in-law Elma, and brother-in-law Hans Andersen

Her children: Hugh (Louise), Robert (Shirley), Deborah (Lorne) Rossnagel , Cindy (Robert) Adamson, and Pearl (Robert) Morris

Grandchildren: John (Heather), Kristine (Graham), Tracy (Dan), Jenna (Justin), Alyssa (Nils), Andrea (Trevor), Aaron (Natasha), Blair (Crystal), Lori (Jamie), Jody (Cory), Alexander (Emma), and Heather (Sam)

As well as 18 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.