Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Prev article
Kearney Gene Lackas
Time to read
1 minute
Read so far

Mary Lois (Dalton) Blair

Posted in:

Peoria Ariz. — Mary Lois (Dalton) Blair, Peoria Ariz., a former longtime resident of Laurel, died April 5, 2020. Due to the travel restrictions at the time, her sons were unable to return for a proper service for her at the Laurel Cemetery. Her sons, Robbie and Jimmy Dalton, will attend a burial site blessing with Father Jerry Connealy, St. Mary’s Catholic Church,Laurel, Oct. 8, at the Laurel Cemetery.

Mary was born Feb. 21, 1932, in Perry County, to Johnnie and Dora Ward, Leopold, Ind. She graduated from Perry County High School in 1948. Mary and Michael “Mick” Dalton (October 1925-September 1970), Laurel, were married Feb. 14, 1949.

Mary was a member of Laurel’s St. Mary’s Catholic Church, serving in the Woman’s Altar Society. She also proudly served as the Den Mother to the Laurel Cub Scout’s Wolf Pack, where both of her boys were Cub Scouts.

Together with their partner, Mary and Mick founded Atlantic Products Photography and Photo Restoration Studio in 1960, in offices located on Laurel’s main street. In 1963-64, they opened the Bear’s Cafe and Teen Club, right next door to the Atlantic Products offices and operated this popular spot for local teens and adults. In 1965, after being driving forces in the formation and fundraising for Laurel’s Cedarview Country Club, Mick and Mary opened and managed the Country Club for the first two seasons. In 1968, Mary started a decade long career at IBP Inc., where she rose through the ranks to become their top salesperson.

Mary married Kennth Blair in 1978. Soon after, they left their corporate positions to relocate to Peoria, Ariz., and enjoy a well earned retirement. That didn’t last long and they soon founded Blair Estate Sales, where they helped families dealing with a family member’s loss sell their family heirlooms and property.

They enjoyed a fun, but hard working 10 years in the Estate sale business and finally sold the business to retire again. That didn’t last long either and they soon started working with the Ping Golf Company managing golf tournaments, volunteer coordination and “on course” leaderboard management. Some of the tournaments they were involved in included the Senior PGA’s “The Tradition Tournament,” the Phoenix LPGA Tournament, the MV111 Tournament and The World Champions of Golf.

Mary and Mick are survived by their two sons, Robert “Robbie” Dalton, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., and James “Jimmy” Dalton, Peoria, Ariz.; two daughters-in-law, Eriko Dalton, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., and Debbie Dalton, Peoria, Ariz.; three grandchildren, Tim Dalton, his spouse, Kristin, and their children, Tyler, Katie, Kinley and Tyce, Houston, Texas; granddaughter, Lacey “Dalton” White, and her spouse, Nic White, and their children, Jackson, Ashlyn and Jace, Knoxville, Tenn.; and grandson, Sean Chapman, Los Angeles, Calif.