Blair J Goates

Blair James Goates, 73, passed away peacefully with his wife, Debby, and daughter, Alesha, by his side on February 13, 2024, at the Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, Idaho, following a brief illness.

Blair was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on November 15, 1950, to Donald and Deloris Goates. He was the second of five children and loved to recount tales of his boyhood mischief in Magna, Utah, that usually included his brothers and his “buddies” riding their bikes into the city or playing at a nearby gully. He met the love of his life, Debby Peterson, while attending Cyprus High School in Magna. He loved to brag about his legacy of being the first boy at the high school to take home ec class where he and Debby hid behind the open cupboards so they could sneak in a few kisses. He had a rebellious spirit and was proudly kicked out of school for refusing to shave his mustache. Blair and Debby were married in Debby’s parents’ backyard on July 10, 1970, despite a storm rolling in that sent everyone inside. This year would have been their 54th wedding anniversary.

Always a keen observer of the natural world, Blair studied plant sciences at Utah State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in 1973. Following graduation, Blair worked at the University as a plant pathologist and lived in Wellsville, Utah. In 1988, Blair was transferred to the USDA Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research Facility in Aberdeen, Idaho, where he worked, commuting from Pocatello where his home was, until retiring in 2011. He jokingly gave himself the title “Smut King'' for his extensive research in the wheat disease, smut. Blair was a well respected agricultural researcher whose work took him all around the globe. Debby often joined him on his travels and the two enjoyed many adventures together throughout Europe, China, and India. Though he never earned a doctorate, he relished in often being called “Dr. Goates,” an honorary title he certainly deserved for all of his work in the field. Blair and Debby started Mountain Biology in the early 90’s, a pollen collecting business that kept Blair busy until the end of his life. Ever the creative problem solver, he invented innovative pollen collecting contraptions for “beating the bush,” as he liked to call it.

To know Blair was to know that his boisterous, unapologetically authentic personality could fill a room. He lived life with a fierce passion, appreciated the fine details in art and nature, and made people laugh with his often crass humor, even until his last moments of life. He loved to get a laugh, but claimed he was actually just “entertaining himself,” something that often landed him in the principal’s office as a boy. Blair’s curious and adventurous spirit led him to pursue several hobbies and interests throughout his life, including sailing, windsurfing at the American Falls Reservoir, playing guitar, playing poker with friends, brewing beer, fishing, throwing pottery, coin collecting, shooting trap, gardening, hunting for wild mushrooms, collecting rocks, and making jewelry. But perhaps his favorite hobby was skiing, where he “skied like a rocket” at Pebble Creek. He loved watching the wildlife in his backyard in the Pocatello hills, often keeping his family apprised of what the lizards and monarchs in the backyard were up to. No matter what his current hobby was, his enthusiasm for it was unmatched, as was his tenacity to tell you all about it.

Despite Blait’s endless list of passions, he said his family was his greatest joy. He was dedicated to spending quality time with each of his daughters, sharing his hobbies with them when they were children and always up for a long chat or “fatherly advice” well into their adulthood. His pride for his daughters could perhaps only be rivaled by the pride he had for his grandchildren. He often remarked that the best part about having daughters is that “they make grandbabies for you.” He delighted in goofing off with his younger grandchildren and he never missed an opportunity to boast about the accomplishments of his older grandchildren. While his loss leaves an enormous void in the hearts of those of us who loved him, knowing he lived a happy, fulfilling life and seeing his legacy live on in his grandchildren brings us great peace.

Blair is survived by his wife, Debby; daughters Conae (Eric) Lee, Alesha (James) Kelley, Jessica (Trevor) Muhler; grandchildren, Ashlin Lee, Anna Lee, Spencer Lee, Alexander Kelley, Maxwell Kelley, Zachary Kelley, Audrey Muhler, and Jonah Muhler; brother, Garth (Kim) Goates, and sister-in-law Lana (Fred) Gruendell. He was preceded in death by his parents, Deloris and Donald Goates, step-mother Kathryn Rice Goates; brothers Craig Goates, Kent (Tammie) Goates, sister Sandra Morrison; and mother and father-in-law Ilean and Daniel Peterson.

Blair’s family would like to express their deep appreciation for the kindness and compassion of the dedicated staff and medical team at Portneuf Medical Center.

A celebration of life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his memory to the Bannock Humane Society or the ISU Craft Shop, two organizations that were dear to his heart.  For convenience, donations can be sent via Venmo to @Alesha-GoatesKelley

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