Memorial services for Dr. Alexander Marshall Blair, 85, will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at Capps Funeral Home with Rev. Steve Casteel officiating. Burial will be in the Tylertown Cemetery.

Alex Blair went home to be with the Lord on February 3, 2018. He was a kind and loving husband of thirty-one years to Mary Elizabeth Pigott. He was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on May 24, 1932 to Alexander Haney Blair and Isabella Marshall Blair.



He graduated with a BA and a MA from the University of Western Ontario and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. He was on the faculty of the Department of Geography of York University in Toronto, Ontario for twenty-eight years.

Some of his accomplishments at York University were: Department Chair, Graduate Program Director, Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Chair of the Geography/Economics Energy Studies Program, Faculty of Arts Distinguished Teaching Award, Chair of the Extractive Industries Group for the Niagara Escarpment Study for the Government of Ontario. He was given the honor of the title of Emeritus after he retired.

He became a Naturalized American Citizen in 1996 when he wrote an article on his experience of the process called: "My Green Card Was Pink!".

Dr. Blair was a member of Heritage United Methodist Church, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and an Eagle Scout. He enjoyed traveling the world and writing those memoirs to share with family and friends.

He leaves behind a wife, Mary Elizabeth Blair; a niece Laura (Stephen) Fall of Windsor, Ontario; a great-niece Meghan (Keegan) Brennan; a nephew Matthew (Rebecca) Fall and numerous great-great nieces and nephews all of Windsor, Ontario.

In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a sister, Noreen Blair Begbie.

Visitation will be at Capps Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 from 9:00 A.M. until service time there at 10 A.M.

Hartman-Hughes Capps Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.


Family and friends may sign the online guest book

The family would like to thank the caring staff of Bedford Care Center and the medical personnel of the ICU of Wesley Medical Center both of Hattiesburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Heritage United Methodist Church, 3 Barracuda Drive, Hattiesburg, MS 39402 or to Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of the University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5055, Hattiesburg, MS 39406.