Obituary of Geanie Blair

Ilagean (Geanie) Blair, daughter of Elvira and Floy Roofener, was born on September 27, 1928, and departed this life on July 30, 2023, at the age of 94. She was a lifelong resident of Camden County.

Geanie married Leslie Blair on June 4, 1949, and they were married 58 years before his death on December 10, 2007. Geanie is survived by her children, Alan (Judy) of Osage Beach, Ann Roam (Doug) of Greensboro, Georgia, Don (Jan) of Peculiar, Missouri, and Kelly (Julie) of Manhattan, Kansas. She was a loving grandmother to ten grandchildren: Julie Roam Abraham, Jennifer Blair Dowdney, Sara Roam Carroll, Carrie Roam Gilmore, David Blair, Michael Blair, Joe Blair, Andrew Blair, Alex Blair, and Doug Blair. Geanie also leaves behind fourteen great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Geanie was preceded in death by her husband, Leslie L. Blair, her father Floy R. Roofener, her mother Elvira (Drenan) Roofener, her brother Wallace J. Roofener, and her sisters Lillian Cunningham, Bertha Roam, and Marjorie Ann Price.

Geanie attended University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg and taught at Pleasant Grove School near Tunnel Dam for several years. Geanie and Les were lifelong business owners in the lake area. They opened their first candy and gift shop, Ozark Maid Candies, on Hwy 54 West in Camdenton in 1956. When Highway 54 bypassed their original store in 1960, Geanie and Les relocated to Osage Beach,now known as Blair & Company Confectionery. For the first year in Osage Beach, they lived in a tiny one-bedroom apartment in the back of the Candy Kitchen with their three young children and a dog named Taffy, until they were able to complete construction on their new home. Geanie managed Ozark Maid Candies for over forty years before she retired at the age of seventy. Geanie and Les loved the Florida Keys and spent many winters in the Key West area. They were members of First Baptist Church in Camdenton for over twenty years and on balmy days, they often drove their vintage Model T Ford the ten miles to Sunday morning services. In 1982, Geanie and Les, plus other supporters, decided there was a need for a local church, so they helped found the Osage Hills Baptist Church in Osage Beach. Later, they were instrumental in the formation of Walk on Water Church in Osage Beach, where she has been a member for the past twenty years.

Memorial Services will be held at Walk On The Water Faith Church, 959 Old State Park Road, Osage Beach, Missouri, on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 11:30 am. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:30am prior to services at the church.  Lunch will be served immediately after the service.