Francis Blair Gaffney

Francis Blair Gaffney, 86, of Carlsbad, New Mexico, celebrated Thanksgiving Day in the presence of his Lord and Savior. He left this life Thursday, Nov. 25, 2010 at Landsun Homes. A memorial service is set for Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010, 1:00 PM at Church Street Church of the Nazarene, 2401 W. Church Street in Carlsbad with the Rev. Christian Gaffney officiating. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Blair was born March 16, 1924, in Lohrville, Iowa. He played football at Lohrville High School and attended Trinity College in Sioux City, Iowa before entering military service. During World War II Blair was stationed at the Carlsbad Army Airfield as a cadet bombardier navigator. While there he met his future wife Miriam Julia Means. They were married at Saint Edward Catholic Church on November 4, 1944. After the war Blair and Miriam came to Carlsbad. Blair worked first at IMC potash mine and then for Joe Wertheim as an insurance agent. Blair had a long career as a banker, working at various banks in Carlsbad, Espanola and Los Alamos. He was always appreciated for his expertise in credit, rising to president of Los Alamos National Bank and Western Commerce Bank, in addition serving as Chairman of the Board at Carlsbad National Bank. He finished his career as an insurance agent at Carlsbad Insurance Agency where he had the pleasure of working with his long time friend, Oran Means. Blair was active in civic life, serving as president of Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce in 1969, board member of St. Francis Hospital, board member of the Living Desert Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Eucharistic minister, Hospice volunteer, Cat's Meow volunteer and as an adult volunteer in the Boy Scouts of America. Blair was preceded in death by his sons, Michael Blair Gaffney and Stephen Scott Gaffney. Blair is survived by his wife, Miriam, of Carlsbad, sons Francis Andrew Gaffney and wife Lili, of Nashville, Tenn., James Patrick Gaffney and wife Katie, of Albuquerque, and John Kevin Gaffney of Reston, Virginia, grandchildren Andrea Gaffney, Jennifer Mann and husband Chad, Lauren Gaffney, Brent Gaffney, Christian Gaffney and wife Stephanie, and Ryan Gaffney and wife Becky, great-grandchildren Chase Mann, Cayla Mann, Hannah Gaffney and Jayce Gaffney.