Gretchen Blair

Gretchen Dickey Blair went to Heaven on August 18, 2024. 

Gretchen was born on June 15, 1940, in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was one of four children born to Raymond and Ethel Dickey. Gretchen graduated from Benton High School where she was on the swim team and played saxophone in the band. In high school, she worked part-time at a local drug store. After high school, Gretchen attended Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Missouri, before moving to Kansas City, Missouri. 

After moving to Kansas City, Gretchen worked in the corporate office of Phillips 66 and Missouri Pacific Railroad. While working at the railroad, she was introduced to her future husband Jerry by Jerry’s brother-in-law who was a co-worker of Gretchen’s at Missouri Pacific. 

At the age of 27, Gretchen married Jerry Kenneth Blair on June 17, 1967. In 1972, Jerry was transferred to California and Gretchen “retired” when the couple moved to Chino, California. The couple moved back to Kansas City in 1975, and in 1977 were blessed with Gretchen’s only child. A few years later Gretchen returned to college at Maple Woods Community College. She was very proud when she earned her associates degree. 

Gretchen’s interests included traveling as much as possible. Gretchen was also an avid fan of her beloved Kansas City Chiefs. 

Gretchen was preceded in death by her parents; siblings Robert “Bob”, Phyllis Fadden, and Charles. She will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by her husband of 57 years, son, Shawn (Andrea) Blair; step-children Patti (Greg) Fedo, Janice Fuqua, David (Maureen) Blair, and Phil Blair; numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and remaining family.

A private graveside service will be held by the family at a future date. 

The family would like to extend their gratitude and appreciation to the caregivers at the Hospice House at North Kansas City Hospital. Gretchen rallied under their care. Gretchen loved to watch the Olympics and once they started, she woke up each morning in hospice, drank a cup of coffee, ate some biscuits and gravy, and waited for her grandsons to arrive to race her in eating ice cream. Although she never won, she came close a couple times. Unfortunately, after she “beat Hospice”, Gretchen’s rally came to an end and she fell asleep and passed away peacefully a few days later.