Obituary of Mrs I. M. Blair, a club member

Mrs. Isobelle Mitchell Blair, wife of Mr. Charles Gilchrist Blair, of the Railway Department, died after a short illness at 12.20 a.m. on Saturday morning. She was the elder daughter of Mr. Andrew Lunn and the late Mrs. Madaline Ainsley Lunn, of Hemmant. She was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, February, 1879, and came to Brisbane with her parents in 1883. She married Mr. C. G. Blair in September, 1901. She is survived by her husband and her adopted daughter, Miss Jessie Elizabeth Blair, matron of Conistin Private Hospital, Hawthorne, and her brother, Mr. James Ainsby Lunn, of the Lands Department, and Mrs. George Williams, Hemmant. During her married life she has resided in Brisbane, Sherwood, Corinda, Dalby, and, for the past 17 years, Toowoomba.

She has been an active Christian worker in the Ann-street Presbyterian Church, the Sherwood Presbyterian Church, St. Thomas's Presbyterian Church (Dalby), and St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church (Toowoomba). She took a great interest in St. Stephen's Women's Guild, and was a vice-president for several years, and one of its loyal workers. She was a member of the Country Women's Association, the Women's Electoral League, and the Toowoomba branch of the National and Country Party. She was also a keen croquet player, and a member of the Toowoomba Croquet Club.

Last Monday afternoon she was present at the West Toowoomba birthday party, where she spent a happy and pleasant afternoon; that evening she felt ill, and she passed away early Saturday morning. She was buried in the Drayton Cemetery, from St. Stephen's Church, after a short service, conducted by the Rev. John Armour.

The pall-bearers from the church were Mr. J. T. Cunningham (assistant General Manager), Mr. J. Morrison (Chief Station Master), Mr. R. Turnbull (secretary, Railway Hospital Benefit Society), Mr. R. Patterson (Stores Clerk) and Messrs. D. Leahy and B. Phillips (goods office). The pall bearers at the graveside were Elders G. Cossart, F. G. Chamberlin, A. E. Cornell, F. Common, R. Patterson and W. Solley, representing the Kirk Session, of which Mr. Blair is a member.

There was a large attendance at the church and the graveside, representative of the various church organisations, the political and sporting bodies, and the business community.

The mourning relatives present were: Mr. C. G. Blair, Matron J. E. Blair, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Lunn, Mrs. George Williams, Miss Madaline Williams, Mr. Walter Gay, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Howarth, Mr. James McIntosh.

Among those present were Sir Littleton Groom, M.P., Mr. J. D. Annand, M.L.A., Captain E. K. Bedwell (president Toowoomba and Country National Party), Mr. Malcolm McStay (president, West Toowoomba C.P.N.), Mr. A. Gibson (secretary of the Toowoomba C.P.N.), Mr. James Hoare (president of the West Toowoomba Progress Association). Among the church members present were: Elder James Dunn (Session Clerk), Elders G. Cossart, J. Cossart, F. G. Chamberlin, R. Patterson, W. Solley, O. Solley, F. B. Common, H. Swan and Mr. R. Mercer (chairman of the Board Management), Mr. D. H. Stuart (honorary secretary), and Messrs. J. Henry and J. Hunt. Other members present included: Messrs. W. H. Hughes, F. Smart, Mr. Robertson, E. K. Wilson, J. France, J. O. Wilson, E. Ferguson (representing the City Council), J. McMaster, E. Gold, A. Forman, F. Summers, M. Ryan, E. Gray, Ken. McFarlane, W. Elvery, S. G. Stephens, J. Harker, R. T. Phelps, Donald McIntyre, W. Phillips, the Rev. A. M. Martin and Mr. J. McMaster (representing the West-street Presbyterian Church). The Toowoomba Bowling Club was represented by Messrs. G. Gowland, A. Proudfoot, W. James, G. Jones, J. Seeley, W. Cramond, A. W. Hale, A. H. Hoskins, G. Hooper, M. Brodie, G. Cossart, T. Neil, J. Provan and J. Lyon.

Floral tributes were received from: Charles and Jessie; Daisy and Jim; Hattie and Family; Ici, Walter, Beth and Ailsa; Harry and Kate; Father, Mary, George and Children; St. Stephen's Kirk Session; the Woman's Guild; St. Stephen's Choir; St. Stephen's Presbyterian Men's Legion; the Toowoomba Croquet Club; the Laurel Bank Croquet Club; the Goods Office Staff; the Toowoomba Bowling Club; the President and Members, C.P.N. Party; West Toowoomba Progress Association; Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Elvery; Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Common and Family; the Chamberlin Family; Mrs. John McKinney; S. G. and G. R. Stephens, Mr. and Mrs. Ken. McKinney; Mr. and Mrs. Paterson; Mr. and Mrs. David Cramond; Mr. and Mrs. George Cossart and Family; Pigott and Co., Pty., Ltd.; Mr. and Mrs. J. Seeley and Boys; Mr. A. Banks; Mr. and Mrs. P. Sullivan and Family; Mr. and Mrs. A. K. Forman; Mrs. McGregor and Family; Mr. and Mrs. G. Fogarty; Mrs. H. Hatton and Thelma; Mr. and Mrs. Mervyn Dines; Mr. E. L. Lamont; Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Hughes and Family; Mr. and Mrs. Fox; Mr. and Mrs. Summers; Mr. and Mrs. J. Wensley; Mr. and Mrs. Rendle.

The article as it was printed in The Toowoomba Chronicle, 18 February 1935. Scan from Trove, National Library of Australia. (Trove, National Library of Australia)