(February 25, 1936 – September 4, 2023)
Nolan Ralph Blain, age 87, of Grand Prairie, passed away on September 4, 2023. He was born February 25, 1936, in Dublin, Texas. He was the 6th child of William Henry and Ethel Mary Frances Strong Blain. He married Martha Sue Shriver on August 9, 1975. Together, they blended their families and raised six children.
Nolan loved living in Dublin, Texas. He started working at the Dr. Pepper plant when he was a teenager. It was there that he learned his work ethic from the men who mentored him. He graduated from Dublin High School in 1954 and while his life journeys took him away from Dublin, Dublin was never far from his heart.
After retiring from General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin in 2000, he and Sue took pleasure in traveling the world. Their preferred mode of travel was taking cruises. They traveled around the world on a cruise ship. They even took the WHOLE family on a cruise, not once, but twice.
Nolan was an active member of the Loyal Order of Moose achieving the highest degree of Pilgrim in 2003.
Nolan loved to dance, especially to country music. He really enjoyed going with the guys on their non-fishing fishing trips and there was never a family gathering that he didn’t cook. The grandkids all loved Papa’s chicken fried steak and gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans with Grammy’s homemade rolls.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, Hoyt, Billie, Ted, Judy, and Helen; and grandsons, Brandon and Grayson.
He is survived by his wife, Sue; children, James (Judy) and their children, Hunter (Amanda), Drew, Jessica, and Rachel; William (Tangela) and their children, Aaron (Melanie) and Astara; Ace (Karen) and their children, Beth and Hannah; Jeri (Geno) and their children, Pam, Susan, Jennifer and Zac; Robert (Rhonda) and their children, Amanda and Travis; Cher (Phil) and their children, Josh (Zenobia), Courtney and Victoria (Joseph). Numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Loyal Order of the Moose or the charity of your choice.
He will be interred at the Live Oak Cemetery, Dublin, Texas, in a private ceremony. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
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