Janette Blair

Janette Coats Blair, 87, passed away on May 20, 2023, at Holy Cross Hospital - Mountain Point in Lehi, Utah. She passed away surrounded by her loving family. She was faithful to the end and has been reunited with her Savior and her loving family, including her eternal companion, Ken. Janette was born on November 8, 1935, in Granger, Utah. She was the 5th child and only daughter of R. Raymond Coats and Ethel Nielsen Coats. Three younger brothers followed, making a total of seven brothers. Her two oldest brothers died very young. She barely remembered the oldest one, and never knew the second one, who died as an infant.

The family lived on a farm. Growing up as the only daughter, Janette learned how to cook, sew, keep house, and tend children. She attended BYU for a year, then went to Utah State University where she majored in early childhood education and earned a teaching degree. In her second year of teaching, she met the love of her life, Ken Blair. They were married on June 22, 1960, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they raised four sons and one daughter. Their children became the focus of their attention for the next several years, and the family enjoyed many happy summers working and playing together.

Janette loved to sew and cook. She sewed several things for herself and her family over the years. She was a wonderful cook, just like her mother. Her family especially loved her traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Just a few years ago, she wanted to make that whole dinner one more time all by herself. She was still cooking until last fall when she no longer had the energy to stand in the kitchen for that long. She loved to spend time with her family, especially the younger children. When her grandchildren were young, she did crafts with them.

Janette loved children. She taught early elementary in Granite School District for 33 years, mostly teaching kindergarten. And her love of children, and of teaching them their earliest academic skills, gave her tremendous fulfillment. She loved her career. She would often run into former students or their parents in various settings, and they always said they loved Mrs. Blair.

After Janette retired from teaching and the children were raised, she and Ken went on several trips and cruises and saw many parts of the world. The first trip they took the summer after she retired was to Ken's former mission area in England, with one of Ken's former companions and his wife. She also served in the Jordan River Utah Temple for ten years. For many years there was a tree stump in the front yard, and we put a face on it, and she would make seasonal costumes and put them on the stump, which we named "Stumpy". Family, friends, and neighbors all enjoyed seeing what would be on "Stumpy" next. She even received a few notes from complete strangers, thanking her for brightening up their lives with the stump decorating. She became known as "The Stump Lady".

Janette was preceded in death by her husband, Ken, her parents and five brothers, as well as two grandchildren. She is survived by her children Gordon (Gina), Russell (Diane), Michael (Kae Lynn), Darrell (Denise) and Janna Blair, brothers Raymond Coats and Don Coats, along with 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday May 26, 2023, at the Roxborough Park Ward Chapel, 3120 W 4700 S, West Valley, Utah. Friends may call at the McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 S Redwood Road, Taylorsville, Utah: Thursday, May 25, 2023, from 6-8:00 p.m. and at the chapel from 10:00-10:45 a.m. prior to the funeral. Interment will be in the Taylorsville City Cemetery, Wednesday, May 31, 10:00 a.m.

The family would like to thank the staff at Covington Senior Living Center and Holy Cross Hospital - Mountain Point, both in Lehi, for their loving care of both their parents in the last few months.

For those who would like to see the Funeral Service virtually, please click on the link below.

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