Leda M. (Howard) Blair

Funeral services for Leda M. (Howard) Blair, 86, Elk Creek, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 20, 2025, in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. 

Our hearts are breaking at the passing of our Mom, and our Dad’s wife, Leda May Blair. She went into hospice care with stage four heart disease and left us on December 6, 2025.

She was born September 29, 1939, in Ozark County, Missouri, to Esta M. (Smith) Howard and Clarence Howard.  Mrs. Blair lost her sight a few years ago but had accomplished many things. She graduated Business College, that in turn gave her a position with McDonnell Douglas for approximately twenty-five years as a data processor. She could type 98 words per minute. She was a very crafty person, painting with oils and giving lessons in her basement, crocheting, and quilting, achieving awards for eighteen years at Hootin an Hollarin from 2000-2018. She gave freely to multiple charities. She had a great sense of humor. She was a great listener; the family jokingly called her the family psychiatrist. Leda encouraged every one of her children to follow God and pursue a life following Christ. She was a true treasure in our lives and will be greatly missed and loved.

Her parents preceded her in death.

Survived by her husband, Melvin T. Blair; four children, Gail Y. (Blair) Baker and husband, Jim, S. Jeffery Blair and wife, Shari (Lawerence), Gwendolyn R. (Blair) McLain and husband, Darryl and Brian E. Blair and wife, Karen Diamond; twelve grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 20, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Ball Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Ball Cemetery, and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 W. Main St., West Plains, Missouri.