Passed Away On: September 25, 2019

This obituary was provided by the Strohn family.

Blaire was born in Hollister, CA on Oct. 18, 1995. She is survived by her parents Gene and Shana Strohn and brother, Blane Strohn (girlfriend Lauren Henslee). Blaire was preceded in death by Jim and Dolly Strohn and grandparents Jack and Edna Kirby, her Uncle Pete Strohn and cousin Todd Robinson. Blaire is also survived by many aunts and uncles including Pat (wife DeDe) Kirby, Tim Kirby, Janet (husband Dave) Slibsager), Patty Strohn, Georgia Robinson and numerous cousins and extended family. Special friends include the Ingber, Hoskins and Velasquez families and her “sister” Amy Strohn.

Blaire attended Tres Pinos School then graduated from San Benito High School, completing her BS in Ag Communications at Fresno State. She recently earned her Masters in International Ag at Oklahoma State. Acquiring an education was a very important part of her life and a goal she set out to achieve and completed. While at Tres Pinos, Gayla and Al Mendonsa’s family became very special to her as she was in day care with Gayla until she was in 8th grade. The Mendosas were like a second family to her.’

Blaire was active in numerous high school organizations including 4-H, FFA, and California High School Rodeo- District 4. She competed in Team Roping, Barrel Racing, Goat Tying, Breakaway and Poles. The event she was fondest of was Goat Tying in which she eventually won the year end saddle. Many thanks to Leigh Semas for the foundation she laid for Blaire learning goats. Blaire was secretary and a board member for high school rodeo. She competed at the State Finals in the Wrangler and High School Division. She was also a member of the Wrangler All Star Team. Her favorite horse was “Bobby Sox” which she acquired from the Mello family.  He was an all-around horse she could use to rope, run barrels or tie goats on.

In college she was active in Young Cattlemen’s Assoc. attending numerous conferences and a member of the Fresno State Beef Show Team, Ag Ambassadors and the Delta New Sorority.  She was a public relations volunteer at the Center for Irrigation Technology, communication intern at Water Energy & Technology Center and worked at the Student Testing Center as well.

More recently, Blaire was a former Marketing Ambassador for the NCBA convention and American Ambassador for RFD TV’s “The American”. This allowed her to indulge in her love of travel to Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. This included visits to the Grand Canyon, the Fort Worth Stockyards, Cowtown and Cowboy Stadium in Dallas. She was so thrilled to be able to work the American Rodeo and experience the press box and the whole venue.

She was an ambassador for Holy Cow Ranches and recently also worked for Organic Produce Network as a social media coordinator and BenitoLink as a freelance reporter. She loved to report on agriculture and South County.

She enjoyed attending the San Benito Saddle Horse Show, competing in barrels and roping events and more recently watching. Her favorite activities included camping, kayaking, riding and hunting. In particular, she loved to buck hunt with her Dad and grandfathers.  She used to go on adventures in the back of the Appel Ranch with her Papa Strohn. Blaire loved to have her Grandpa Kirby brush her hair or rub her back. In recent years, she always thrilled in getting her buck on opening day.

Blaire had such a zest for life with her feistiness and strong will. She was a true Spitfire. She touched so many lives and came to know so many people in so many venues of her life. From rodeo to school and in between, her love of people has been an integral part of her life. One thing she never let happen was for Cystic Fibrosis to dictate her life or her goals. She lived her life her way and to the fullest, achieving her life-long ambitions and goals from school to work to travel.

We would like to thank the staff at Lucille Packard Children’s and Dr. Terry Robinson and his team for the care given to Blaire as a child. She transitioned to the adult side and worked with Dr. David Lee and his remarkable team including Deb and Tami at the UCSF Fresno location. Blaire adored these individuals so much. The transplant center at UCSF helped her achieve her goals and live life to the fullest. WE can never thank the staff of Community Regional Medical Center 7th floor and ICU Units enough. The caring people who work at this hospital are truly to be commended. They helped Blaire and us so much in the last few days.

A celebration of life will be held at Paicines Ranch, 13388 Old Airline Highway, Paicines, CA on Oct. 19 at 11:00 A.M to 3:00 P.M. Lunch will be served. If you have a favorite side dish or dessert to share, that would be appreciated. Please wear your favorite comfortable jeans and boots/shoes.

Any pictures that you would like to share can be sent via email to laurenhenslee@yahoo.com (as soon as possible).

Donations are preferred to CHSRA District 4 c/o Tisha Gozzelino P.O. Box 842
Soledad, CA 93960 or Living Breath Foundation 2031 Marsala Circle, Monterey, CA 93940

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See video story on Blaire Strohn.

Read Blaire Strohn’s commentary on Cystic Fibrosis on BenitoLink.