James Wayne Blair

James Wayne Blair, 73 of West Chester, PA passed away Friday March 7, 2025 at his home.

He was married to Carol Lafferty Blair, the love of his life, with whom he shared 33 wonderful years of marriage.

Born December 26, 1951 in Midland City, AL he was the son of the late Sambene Blair and the late Rowena Starling Blair.

James grew up in Midland City Alabama and graduated from Dale County High School in Midland City and completed the Veteran’s Upward Bound Program at Miami-Dade Community College, in Miami Florida. 

Jim served honorably in the United States Army, serving overseas in Korea during the Vietnam War.  He was proud of his service to our country and made a life-long friend and Heavy Brother, Burley W. Wright.  

He worked as a Sales and Operations Executive for many years at various locations in Miami Florida where he enjoyed working and travelling to numerous Caribbean locations such as St. Lucia, the Bahamas and Barbados where he made great friends in many varied locations.  Later, he enjoyed a highlight of his career, working alongside his brother Bob Lafferty and sister Nancy Lafferty Heckman for Diversified Thermal Equipment in Marchwood, PA.  While there, he was awarded the New Jersey State Efficiency achievement award for his work on an energy saving installation which provided an eco-friendly system, providing energy savings and safety.

James was a faithful believer in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and was a member of St. Agnes Church in West Chester.  He coached little league baseball for many years for West Side Little League and served as Cub Master and Den Leader for Cub Scout Pack 110, where Jim and Carol made lifelong friendships to this day.  

If you were lucky enough to know Jim, you were always greeted with a hearty handshake or hug.  Constantly described by many as self-assured, friendly and outgoing, Jim had a way of making you feel like you had just met a friend.  Some of Jim’s greatest joys were golfing with dear friends and his sons.  He also loved fishing -  whether it was from an embankment, off of a fishing pier, wading in the Chesapeake Bay, offshore with his brother Terry, or on one of many fishing trips with his sons on his boat, “My Bama Buoy’s”.  Jim also loved camping and enjoying the outdoors, with many nights by the fireside campsite with his beloved family and friends.  One of Jim’s favorite activities and great joy of his life was playing the guitar and singing together with his brothers and sister, his Alabama nieces and nephews and alongside his sons and wife.   

Jim absolutely loved cheering on his beloved Alabama Crimson Tide all his life and later was thrilled when his son Ryan graduated from the University of Alabama where Jim, Carol and Jimmy enjoyed thrilling games and fun tailgating.  Jim also loved cheering for Villanova and attended many games with his wife and the whole Lafferty family.  Just recently, Jim began to cheer for the Nittany Lions as his youngest son, Jimmy now attends Penn State University.  Obviously, Jim faithfully rooted for Villanova and Penn State…. As long as they were not playing Alabama!  

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons, Ryan James Blair and James Joseph Blair, and brothers, Charles Blair, and Terry Blair, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by sister, June Blair Walding, his nephews David Blair and Brendan Lafferty, his niece Shannon Lafferty, his brothers in Law James Lafferty and Joe Walding, and special Aunt Linda Faye.

Relatives and friends are invited to his visitations on Friday, March 14, 2025 from 6:00 pm - 7:45 pm at DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. 410 North Church Street West Chester, PA 19380, followed by a Prayer Service at 8:00 pm and on Saturday, March 15, 2025 from 10:00 am - 10:45 am at St. Agnes Church; 233 W. Gay St. West Chester, PA 19380; followed by his Funeral Mass at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family asfks that donations be made to the Vietnam Veterans of America

Interment will be private.  

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, PA 610-696-1181; www.DellaFH.com Interment will be private.