Eira Justice departed this world on September 8, 2021, to be with her Lord and Savior after a life well-lived. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.
She was born on New Year’s Eve 1927 to Evan Jones and Elizabeth Ellen (Parry) Jones in Pentre Rhondda Valley, County of Glamorgan, Wales, Great Britain. As a child, her family moved to Derby, England, where she lived through the air raids of World War II. Her experiences during the war and the time she spent in underground air raid shelters had a lasting impact on her life.
During the war, she met Walter Joseph Blake at a United Service Organization’s dance for the soldiers in Derby. They married, and in 1946 Eira was granted passage to the United States as an English War Bride. Our family cherishes the original ticket we found marking this journey from a train to a ship that brought her to Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
Eira loved her Queen and her country. She never gave up her British citizenship. She held tight to her heritage and taught her family the traditional language, beliefs, customs, and stories of Wales. Caru chi Gramsey.
Eira loved and treated all children as if they were her own. She made a difference in the lives of many people through her work at St. Paul’s Episcopal School, The Phoenix School, Bowie Elementary School, and Satellite Roller Rink. She was a true Welsh Lady that is remembered as the Great Grand Matriarch of a wonderful family and many adoring friends.
She was preceded in death by numerous loved ones including her parents, her husband Walter Joseph Blake, a son-in-law Paul Harper, and her brothers and sisters Eunice, Bonnie, Kit, Roy, and Tommy.
Eira is survived by her daughter Joyce Harper Jenkins and husband Jim of Pottsboro, son Kevin Blake, Sr. and wife Darlene of Terrell, son Stan Justice and wife Cindy of Bedford, granddaughter Kristi Boldt and husband David of McKinney, granddaughter Nicki Dawson and husband David of Commerce, granddaughter Patti Osuna and husband David of Greenville, grandsons Evan Justice and Dylan Justice of Bedford, grandson Kevin Blake, Jr. of Terrell, granddaughter Cindi Blake of Garland, 12 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren, and all her beloved family in the United Kingdom.
There will be a tribute and celebration of her life with a come-and-go gathering on Sunday, September 12, 2021, from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm at Family Fellowship of Greenville 401 Division Street Greenville, Texas 75401 (please use the entrance facing Division Street). Masks are recommended.
