Mr. Donald Raymond Blais

Donald Raymond Blais of Sykesville passed away peacefully on March 9, 2023 at the age of 85. Don was born on November 19,1938 in Duluth, MN to the late Raymond and Beatrice Blais. He loved everything and everyone with ties to Duluth. Don loved to share memories of skiing, sailing on Lake Superior and playing at Duluth's Chester Park. Following graduation from Marquette University he relocated to Baltimore, MD to begin a career with the Social Security Administration and at this same time he entered the service spending time in both active duty and the Army Reserves. It was in the cafeteria at the Social Security Administration where he met the love of his life and wife of 54 years, Ann. They were married on August 24, 1963 and settled in Sykesville, MD where together they raised their three daughters. Ann and his daughters were truly the center of his life enjoying sailing, sledding, swimming, summer vacations in Duluth, Ocean City, MD and Deep Creek Lake, countless hours watching softball, driving to/from music lessons and band practice. For many years Don was actively involved with the Liberty High School Band Boosters and enjoyed numerous other volunteer activities including Meals on Wheels, working with a local literacy organization helping adults learn to read, and as a member of the Knights of Columbus Saint Joseph's Parish. He also learned the game of soccer for the purpose of being able to coach his daughter Kathy's team. His favorite hobbies included woodworking and researching his French-Canadian Ancestry. Don was a published researcher of French-Canadian Ancestry with his family line researched back to the 1600's. Don is survived by his three daughters and sons-in-law Sharon and Pete Carney of West Chester, PA, Susan and Eric Younkin of Mt. Airy, and Kathy and Guy Reese of New Market, and ten grandchildren - Andrew (Angela), Christopher, David and William Carney, Michael, Erica Mayle (Justin), Emily, and Matthew Younkin, Karlie and Dylan Reese, and four grand dogs of whom he was also very fond. A highlight of Don's life was having his entire family at home sharing a meal and celebrating holidays together. Don was preceded in death by his wife Ann Blais (Kortisses) who he has so very much missed. Visitation will be Monday March 18th from 4pm -7pm at Haight Funeral Home and Chapel, 6416 Sykesville Road, Sykesville. Funeral Services will be Tuesday March 19th at 11am at Saint Joseph Catholic Community, 915 Liberty Road, Eldersburg, with Interment to follow at Springfield Cemetery, Sykesville. The funeral service will be available by livestream starting at 10:55 AM at https://www.facebook.com/saintjosephcc or https://Saintjoseph.cc/watch Memorial donations may be made to: Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland: Donate Online - https://www.mealsonwheelsmd.org/donate-online/ or Carroll County Food Sunday: Donate - https://ccfoodsunday.org/donate/ or by mail to Carroll County Food Bank, P.O. Box 605, Westminster, MD 21158. Online condolences may be offered at www.haightfuneralhome.com

Mr. Donald Raymond Blais

November 19, 1938 - March 9, 2024