Jean Ireland passed away peacefully on October 17th at her Fairmont home of nearly fifty years, surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jean was born in 1927, sister to the late Anne Blair Morgan of Fairmont, and daughter of Jackson V. Blair, Jr., a pilot and attorney, and Eleanor Fox Blair, both from distinguished West Virginia / Virginia families dating to the Colonial era.  She graduated salutatorian of her class from (West) Fairmont Senior High School and summa cum laude from (then) Fairmont State College.  She married the late Thomas DeWitt ("Tim") Ireland in 1950, and she taught at several local schools during his studies at WVU School of Law.  An accomplished artist, she also practiced drawing, painting, and pottery.

Jean and Tim moved to Florida and California during his service as a Marine pilot in the Korean Conflict. Afterward they lived in Washington, D.C., where she taught in Virginia schools and he worked as an attorney for the Civil Aeronautics Board.  In 1958, Tim accepted a position as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Virgin Islands, and they moved to St. Thomas in 1959.

Jean and Tim's son and daughter were born in the VI, and Tim moved into private law practice.  In the islands they enjoyed swimming and boating and hosted regular dinner parties, and Jean restored several large pieces of furniture that remain in their home today.

In 1977 they returned to Fairmont and purchased and renovated a home, which they shared with several generations of dogs and cats.  They joined the Fairmont Country Club, and Jean was a member of the Junior League of Fairmont, the Green Hills Garden Club, and bridge and book clubs, in which she remained active for over forty years.  She also worked regularly on the grounds, including caring for a large grape arbor.

Jean is survived by her son Blair, a Princeton/Stanford PhD and consultant/executive, her daughter Morgan Harbert, an Art Institute designer and a founder and teacher at Morgantown Montessori, Morgan's husband John, her granddaughter Erin Lambert, a WVU graduate and a founder and Directress of Morgantown Montessori, Erin's husband Tyler, her grandson Lloyd ("L.T.") Harbert, a commercial pilot, her great-grandchildren Beau and Emilia Lambert, her niece Eleanor Morgan, a retired commercial pilot, and Tim's nieces and nephew Alison Reiter, Linda Morgan Davis and John Morgan.

Jean's family are deeply grateful to her caregivers for the care and attention they provided during the last few years, especially to Melissa Peele, Gerry Arnold and Darlene Beanard, and Norma Monell.

There will be a private memorial reception.  The family suggests donations to an animal welfare organization in lieu of flowers. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com .