Mary Frances Tanner Blair

Mary Frances Tanner Blair, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 2, 2023, in Belton, Texas. She was born on August 6, 1931, in Gatesville, Texas to the late John Aubrey Tanner and Lillie Dale Delano. A time of visitation will be held from 5-7 pm Monday, October 9th at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Belton. Funeral services will take place the next day, Tuesday, October 10th, at 2 pm, also at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Salado Cemetery.

Mary touched the lives of many through her career as a Nurse's Aide. Her warm and loving nature extended beyond her profession though to her family and friends. She was known for her exceptional cooking skills and was particularly famous for her mouthwatering chicken and dressing. Every Thanksgiving, Mary opened the doors of her home to host a feast for her family and friends. Cooking and entertaining were not just tasks for Mary; they were expressions of love. In addition to her love for cooking, Mary found solace in gardening. She had a green thumb and took joy in nurturing plants and watching them bloom. As a wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother, nothing brought her greater joy than spending time with her family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Norman Blair, sons Darrel Jay Blair, and Norman Wayne Blair, and brother Lewis Edward Tanner. Mary is survived by her daughters Norma Everett, Linda & J.T. Edmonson, and Shela Bunch; daughter-in-law Kathy Blair; eight grandchildren; and twenty great-grandchildren. The impact she had on their lives cannot be put into words but will forever reside in their hearts.