PERCY- Myles Lester Blair, 84, of Percy, passed away on Thursday November 14, 2019 at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, Illinois.  He was born on March 28, 1935 in Pinckneyville, Illinois, the son of Myles and Bessie (Shaw) Blair.  Lester married Verna Dean Rathert at St. John's Lutheran Church in Chester, Illinois on July 30, 1955.

Lester was a retired Lineman for IBEW, Local 702 in West Frankfort, Illinois.  He was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill, the IBEW Local 702, West Frankfort where he had been a member for 65 years and the UMWA Local 7333, Streamline Mine in Percy.  Lester was an avid fisherman with the Kinkaid Bass Club.  He also enjoyed dabbling in Cat Ranching.

Lester is survived by his wife, Verna Dean Blair of Percy; son, Myles Michael (Sharon Kay) Blair of Coulterville; daughters, Marsha Blair of Collinsville, Mary Blair of Morton, Illinois and Melonie (John) Fabian of Chino Valley, Arizona; grandchildren, Matt, Adam and Myles Nathan Blair, Sha Blair-Hoagland, Anthony, Daniel and Philip Kober, Eric Ehlers, Emilie, Austin, Amilia and Alex Dierks and Bridger Fabian and 12 great grandchildren.  He is also survived by sisters, Margery (Keith) Hartman and Virginia O'Conner, both of Percy and godson, Andrew O'Conner of Carbondale.

Lester was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Marty Blair.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill, Illinois with the Rev. Alan Kornacki officiating.  Burial will follow in Percy Village Cemetery in Percy, Illinois.  Visitation will be on Monday, November 18, 2019 at the Wilson's Funeral Home in Steeleville, where friends may call from 5 to 8PM and on Tuesday from 7:30 to 9am and at the church from 10-11am. Memorials may be made to the St. Peter Lutheran Church General Fund.