We are deeply saddened that on Dec. 1, 2024, Steven Blair passed away at home in Eureka after a long battle with cancer. His wife Linda, of 44 years, and son John were by his side. Steve was born July 22, 1955, in Madison, Wisconsin to Ed and Mynn Blair. He was raised in the Madison and Sun Prairie area, graduating from Sun Prairie High School in 1973. His favorite place to escape to was his grandparents dairy farm. He remained best friends with some of his youth, Mark Wilson, and Steve McQuinn to the end. Steve also attended at Madison Area Technical College.

He started a long migration across the country from Wisconsin, starting in Texas, where he worked his way from shop worker and maintenance to a millwright, welder, and foreman, building everything from satellite dishes to drag lines to oil derricks. He would come home just drenched in sweat from the heat and humidity. Moving to cooler temps on the West Coast, he worked as a welder in Port Angeles, Washington, on to lift maintenance at what is now known as Olympic Valley Ski Resort, at Tahoe, Ca., and learned to love skiing. On to Reno, Nevada, he worked for Nevada Dept. of Transportation as a welder and maintenance, and took part in their Engineer in Training program, allowing him to become an engineer. He also earned his Associate Degree at Western Nevada Community College and was a teaching assistant in welding there, which he truly enjoyed.

Once when he was a child, he had spun a globe to land on where he might want to live when he grew up, he landed on Humboldt, which made it fitting when he ended up working for CalTrans and the family finally settled for good in Eureka. Once here, he did not want to live anywhere else. He became a transportation engineer, eventually ending up as a project manager. He was proud of his involvement in various infrastructure projects around the state, especially with the Confusion Hill Bridge team, among many others.

Steve was a hard worker, honest and loyal, and ever an optimist. Everyone would say, “He was a good man”. He had long had medical battles; “Trying to stay ahead of falling apart” as he’d say, always enduring with his all. Until the end, he fought the cancer and was so hopeful he would beat it again. Some of his favorites were the song “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” from Monty Python, all of the Beatles and Pink Floyd. He loved animals, especially the many dogs he’d had over the years, and is finally reunited with Harry, Sam and all the others. He loved traveling the world and experiencing new adventures. A passion of his was restoring his 1970 Mercury Cyclone - competition orange, which his son John, promises to finish. Steve was also a member of the Masons of California - Six Rivers Lodge #106.

He is survived by Linda and John, his mother Mynn Weffald, brother Gary Blair (Kathy) of Texas, sister JoAnne Simmerman of Alaska, brother David Weffald (Linda) of Colorado, and brother-in-law David Nelson (Bev) of Washington. Also many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews from one coast to another. Preceded in death by his father Ed Blair of Wisconsin, step-father Don Weffald of Texas, Uncle Eddie Bateson of California-he was especially close to, and many other cherished family members.

No service is planned, but in Steve’s honor, please take a walk in nature, listen to some Pink Floyd, and most of all hug your family, friends, and animals. If you feel like contributing to a cause close to his heart, please consider your local animal rescue, Hospice of Humboldt, or World Central Kitchen.

A heartfelt thank you to the Palliative Care and Hospice of Humboldt, Ayers Mortuary, and all our friends, neighbors, coworkers and family. I can’t begin to tell you how much your kindness means. I found this saying amongSteve’s papers, and he would have liked to share it.

New Years’ Light

Light this candle to remind us that Light defeats Darkness,
And to remind us of those who have gone to the Light,
And to acknowledge that good people bring Light with them,
And leave some when they leave.

-Author Unknown

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Steve Blair’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.