Ada Elise Whitlock was born in Carrollton, Texas on April 3, 1930, died June 24, 2026, at the age of 96.  Her parents were Juanita Brake Whitlock and Homer T. Whitlock.

The Brakes and the Whitlocks were early settlers of the land along the banks of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River.  Elise inherited an antique recliner that her great grandfather carried across the Red River in a covered wagon.  She cherished the memory that her family brought that chair on horseback all the way down Preston Road from the Red River to the Trinity.  Both families had large farms, and Elise shared many stories of the large gardens and farm animals that provided much needed food when so many were hungry.

Growing up in a small town “where everyone knew each other” provided Elise with great freedom to explore the fields and creeks with her many cousins and dear friends.  She started and completed all her schooling right there in Carrollton, graduating from Dewitt Perry High School in 1948.  While in school, Elise enjoyed all sports, especially basketball, played the saxophone in her High School band and was selected to serve as the marching band’s Majorette.  After High School she attended North Texas State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in interior design and English and later a master’s degree in library science.  While interior design was always intended to help her keep a lovely and beautiful home, teaching was her calling and would be the focus of her professional career.

After college and while working for a design company in Dallas, Elise met a very handsome sailor one night at a homecoming game in Carrollton.  William Buchan Blair was her blind date, and they both knew they were meant to be together.  Bill was in the Navy and working in Dallas at the Naval Recruiting Office.  They began dating right away and were married on February 22, 1951.

Moving to the neighboring town of Richardson, Elise and Bill began their life together, having three girls and many friends.  Elise poured her heart and soul into her family and shared countless summer hours traveling across the United States in a “packed to the gills” station wagon and camping along every fishable trout stream in their path.  Her family often proclaimed that they were a team able to set up camp in 30 minutes or less, even after dark.

Elise had a long and successful career in the Richardson Independent School District.  She was a gifted teacher and inspired many young students who went through her Honors English classes at West Junior High or engaged with her in one of the many libraries that the school district asked her to establish and lead.  Wanting to highlight Texas authors and encourage students to read more of their work, Elise was a founding member on the Texas Library Association’s committee to establish the Texas Bluebonnet Award reading program.  Today her tireless effort and focus live on as The Texas Bluebonnet Award is one of the most prestigious children’s choice literary awards in the United States. 

During the later years of their working life, Elise and Bill purchased land North of Sadler, Texas and began making plans to retire there and provide a place for themselves as well as their adult children and grandchildren to enjoy by their side.  Elise was active in the congregational family of First Presbyterian Church of Whitesboro and in Chapter A of the P.E.O. International Sisterhood.

Elise is preceded in death by her parents, Juanita Brake Whitlock and Homer T. Whitlock: her loving husband, William Buchan Blair; her sister Edwina Whitlock Thompson.

She is survived by her daughter Lisa, son-in-law Byron Compton and her grandchildren, Mary and Mallory; her daughter Lynn, son-in-law Tom McIntire and her grandchildren, Chris Jones (Allison) and David Jones (Tessa); her daughter Lara Blair.  She was a great-grandmother to Chris and Allison’s children, Reese (8) and Will (5) and David and Tessa’s children, Emilia (4) and Arya (1).  She is also survived by a few of her cousins, three nieces, and one nephew.

A memorial service in celebration of Elise’s life will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Whitesboro, Texas on July 3, 2026.  The service will begin at 1:00pm and a reception will follow in Fellowship Hall.  First Presbyterian Church is located at 200 N Union Street in Whitesboro, Texas 76273.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting those that are interested to consider donating to the Texas Star Oaks Fund, Inc., a project of the Texas State Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood.

These donations can be made by check, payable to “Chapter A – P.E.O.” with TSOFI named on the subject line.

Please mail all checks as follows;

Lisa Compton

Treas, Chapter A

P.O. Box 563

Sadler. TX  76264