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Ada Elise (Whitlock) Blair
Carrollton
& Farmers Branch
TXGenWeb
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Home > People > B >
Ada Elise (Whitlock) Blair
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OBITUARY
 Elise Whitlock Blair
Apr 3, 1930 - Jun 24, 2026
Ada Elise
Whitlock was born in Carrollton, Texas on April 3, 1930, died June 24,
2026, at the age of 96. Her parents were Juanita Brake Whitlock and
Homer T. Whitlock.
The Brakes and the Whitlocks were early settlers of the land along the
banks of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. Elise inherited an antique
recliner that her great grandfather carried across the Red River in a
covered wagon. She cherished the memory that her family brought that
chair on horseback all the way down Preston Road from the Red River to
the Trinity. Both families had large farms, and Elise shared many
stories of the large gardens and farm animals that provided much needed
food when so many were hungry.Growing up in a small town “where
everyone knew each other” provided Elise with great freedom to explore
the fields and creeks with her many cousins and dear friends. She
started and completed all her schooling right there in Carrollton,
graduating from Dewitt Perry High School in 1948. While in school,
Elise enjoyed all sports, especially basketball, played the saxophone
in her High School band and was selected to serve as the marching
band’s Majorette. After High School she attended North Texas State
University, earning a bachelor’s degree in interior design and English
and later a master’s degree in library science. While interior design
was always intended to help her keep a lovely and beautiful home,
teaching was her calling and would be the focus of her professional
career. After college and while working for a design company in Dallas,
Elise met a very handsome sailor one night at a homecoming game in
Carrollton. William Buchan Blair was her blind date, and they both knew
they were meant to be together. Bill was in the Navy and working in
Dallas at the Naval Recruiting Office. They began dating right away and
were married on February 22, 1951.
Moving to the neighboring town of Richardson, Elise and Bill began
their life together, having three girls and many friends. Elise poured
her heart and soul into her family and shared countless summer hours
traveling across the United States in a “packed to the gills” station
wagon and camping along every fishable trout stream in their path. Her
family often proclaimed that they were a team able to set up camp in 30
minutes or less, even after dark.Elise had a long and successful career
in the Richardson Independent School District. She was a gifted teacher
and inspired many young students who went through her Honors English
classes at West Junior High or engaged with her in one of the many
libraries that the school district asked her to establish and lead.
Wanting to highlight Texas authors and encourage students to read more
of their work, Elise was a founding member on the Texas Library
Association’s committee to establish the Texas Bluebonnet Award reading
program. Today her tireless effort and focus live on as The Texas
Bluebonnet Award is one of the most prestigious children’s choice
literary awards in the United States.
During the later years of their working life, Elise and Bill purchased
land North of Sadler, Texas and began making plans to retire there and
provide a place for themselves as well as their adult children and
grandchildren to enjoy by their side. Elise was active in the
congregational family of First Presbyterian Church of Whitesboro and in
Chapter A of the P.E.O. International Sisterhood.
Elise is preceded in death by her parents, Juanita Brake Whitlock and
Homer T.
Whitlock: her loving husband, William Buchan Blair; her sister Edwina
Whitlock Thompson. She is survived by her daughter Lisa, son-in-law
Byron Compton and her
grandchildren, Mary and Mallory; her daughter Lynn, son-in-law Tom
McIntire and her grandchildren, Chris Jones (Allison) and David Jones
(Tessa); her daughter Lara Blair. She was a great-grandmother to Chris
and Allison’s children, Reese (8) and Will (5) and David and Tessa’s
children, Emilia (4) and Arya (1). She is also survived by a few of her
cousins, three nieces, and one nephew. A memorial service in
celebration of Elise’s life will be held at First Presbyterian Church
in Whitesboro, Texas on July 3, 2026. The service will begin at 1:00pm
and a reception will follow in Fellowship Hall. First Presbyterian
Church is located at 200 N Union Street in Whitesboro, Texas 76273.In
lieu of flowers, the family is requesting those that are interested to
consider donating to the Texas Star Oaks Fund, Inc., a project of the
Texas State Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. These donations can be
made by check, payable to "Chapter A – P.E.O." with TSOFI named on the
subject line.
Please mail all checks as follows;
Lisa Compton
Treas, Chapter A
P.O. Box 563
Sadler. TX 76264
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Notes:
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Carrollton-Farmers Branch
TXGenWeb