Obituary of Blair Campbell

It is with great sadness, and a deep sense of loss that the family announces the death of James Arnold Blair Campbell on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at the age of 73.

Born September 26, 1950, Blair was the son of H. Ross and M. Elizabeth (nee Sparrow) Campbell.  The Campbell name is part of the heritage of the Ottawa Valley.  Hailing from the area of Argyllshire, Scotland,  Blair’s great great grandfather,  Dougald Campbell was one of the pioneer farmers brought here by the Laird McNab to settle and farm the area in the 1840’s.  That original farm remains still in the Campbell lineage.  Blair was a true farmer at heart.  He lived and breathed farming.  It was in his blood.  He passed on the love of farming to both his daughters and his grandchildren. 

A graduate of Guelph University in the Resources Management Program, he was part of the first graduating class in that discipline in 1974.  While there, he met his future wife – Elizabeth King,  also a graduate of Guelph in Economics.  They married and both went on to work in the field of Agriculture for 4 years in PEI with the provincial department.  In 1978, he and his family moved back to Arnprior to take up the running of the family farm – his first love – and continued up until his dementia diagnosis prevented him from performing the duties needed to maintain the farm. 

Blair was heavily involved in many farm organizations both locally and provincially and had membership in the Federation of Agriculture serving as chair of the Arnprior Area Federation of Agriculture.  

He was also involved in “The Farm Comes to Town” and the “Rural Ramble”.   He was a member of the now defunct BIO – Beef Improvement Ontario, the Renfrew County Soil and Crop Improvement Association, the Renfrew County Plowmen, the Renfrew County Beef, and the Renfrew County Stewardship Committee.  He was a favoured judge of grains and hay at many fairs and exhibitions for the area.  He was a junior farmer and supported the 4H community including his daughter Alexis’ involvement in 4H beef shows both locally and provincially. The next generation has continued the 4H involvement with his granddaughter Dana, also being involved in 4H.  He also was involved in the organization and planning for the International Plowing Match in 1996 and he and Liz hosted the Renfrew County Plowing Match in 1986.  

Over his many years of farming, Blair also mentored many young men in the discipline of farming. 

He was generous with his knowledge, his time and his equipment when a need arose within either the farm community or the wider local community.

He will be deeply missed by his loving wife of 49 years Elizabeth (nee) King; his dear sister Heather; his two beautiful daughters, Amy (Greg Kelly) and Alexis (Shaun Riordan) and his five wonderful grandchildren Hill, Ivy, Eric, Dana and Ross. 

Blair's final care has been entrusted to the

Pilon Family Funeral Home and Chapel Ltd.,

50 John Street North, Arnprior

where visitation will be held on Sunday afternoon, December 17th from 2 to 5 p.m. and again on Monday morning, December 18th from 9:30 to 10:30.

A Service to honour and celebrate Blair's life will take place in the Pilon Family Chapel on Monday morning at 11 o'clock.

The service will be webcast live for those unable to attend. 

A reception will follow.

Interment in the Campbell family plot at the Albert Street Cemetery, Arnprior.

In memory of Blair, donations may be made to the Arnprior Regional Health Foundation. 

The family wish to acknowledge the care, compassion and tenderness shown to Blair and the Campbell family by the staff of the Oak wing at The Grove,

Dr Garcia and the two special ladies, Jackie Terrell and Debbie Rueckwald who with great empathy, accompanied Blair and his family to the end of his journey.