Nola Blair, 80, of Hilltop Lakes, passed away Thursday December 14, 2017 in Bryan. A visitation will be from 10 am until the time of service at 11 am on Monday, December 17, 2017 at Hilltop Lakes Chapel. Interment will be at 1pm on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 in Laurel Land Cemetery, Dallas, Texas. Life Tribute Services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Centers of Bryan College Station.
Nola was born to John and Alice Todd McKenzie in Drumright, Oklahoma on December 28, 1936. She is one for four children born to her parents. Nola met Hugh while they were both working at Florene and Glenn’s State Fair Business. The family laughed and said he fell in love with her the aroma of bleach on her hands from sanitizing things around there. Nola would cashier and help do books. Hugh would cook and help buss tables and whatever else was needed. It was a hard two weeks working the fair but then they began enjoying each other’s company too much and ended up getting married. When Hugh fell and broke his hip and had surgery she stayed right by his side until he gained some strength back; at that point, she would do her chores at home and then off the fifty miles to Bryan to see her husband.
Nola loved her morning coffee and animal crackers that Hugh would bring her each morning. Nola loved to cook and bake, which she loved to share with her friends. Nola was employed with Wyatt’s Cafeteria from the age of 16 until she retired. She received a scholarship to SMU but the family didn’t have enough money to supply her in the appropriate attire. She attended Burroughs Business College paid by Wyatt’s Cafeterias. She started out as a comptometer operator (the first commercial key driven mechanical calculator) and soon was promoted to the company secretary to Mr. Wyatt himself. Nola loved Daisies and at one time she and Florene were going to open a Florist Shop and call it “Daisy’s”. In each arrangement, they would put one daisy, hence the name “Daisy”.
Nola belong to the Sister of Beta Sigma Sorority and was a member of the Undominational Church in Hilltop Lakes Chapel. Nola wore her high heels when she was eighty years of age. She loved her friends.
Her parents precede her in death; as well as her brother Troy Everett McKenzie; and niece Deborah Gail Engeldow.
She is survived by her husband Hugh Lee Blair; her step-children Russell and wife Amy Seltzer-Blair; Robin and husband Steve Kolton, Ginger and husband Ken Lader; sister, Mary Ilene Engeldow; nephews Archie and wife Angie Engeldow, Steven and his wife Deborah Engledow, and Troy V. McKenzie, of Dallas; her nieces Rhonda McKenzie of Dallas, Paula (PK) McKenzie, of Boulder, Co., Tina and husband Tom Lewis, of Tulsa, Tracey McKenzie, of Dallas, and Sharon Rose; her sister Florene Engeldow; her sister in-law Mildred Woods, and sister in-law Beverly Johnson; numerous nieces and nephews and cherished friends.