Shirley I. Blair

Shirley I. Blair, 97, resident of Milford, NH, died on August 28, 2025, at Courville Nursing Home, Nashua, NH.

She was born on May 26, 1928, in Medford, MA, the daughter of Maurice F. Crane and Irene E. (Hardy) Crane. Shirley was raised and educated in Stoneham, MA, having graduated from Stoneham High School, Class of 1946. She attended Nursing School at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and worked as an operating room nurse after graduation. She married Clarence W. Blair in 1951, and they moved to Burlington, MA where she lived for 29 years and raised their family. During this time Shirley also worked as a public school nurse. She moved back to Stoneham, MA in 1985 where they lived until 2005 when they moved to Milford, NH. Everywhere Shirley lived she was very active in her church most recently with the Milford United Methodist Church.

Shirley had many hobbies she loved including cooking, knitting, sewing and spending time in her garden.

She was deeply devoted to her family, as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She was predeceased by her loving husband, Clarence W. Blair, Jr. who died in 2020; her son-in-law, Kenneth Hare; two sisters, Lois E. Mayer and Donna R. Ford.

Family members include her children; Shirley B. Blair of Hopedale, MA, Deborah Hare of Townsend, MA, Sheryl Galanis and James of Townsend, MA and Wesley R. Blair and Janet of Upton, ME. She had many grand and great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, all of whom loved her dearly; and a brother, Douglas R. Crane.

A calling hour will be held on Thursday, September 4th from 10:00am to 11:00am at the Milford United Methodist Church, 327 North River Road, Milford. A funeral service will follow at 11:00am. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, 454 Nashua Street, Milford.