Blossom McBrier

Blossom Parke McBrier passed away peacefully from natural causes on July 10, 2023.  She was surrounded and supported in her death by family and friends. Blossom, the wife of the late James R. McBrier, died at her home in Fairview, Pennsylvania.  

Blossom was born in Los Angeles, California on December 29, 1923, a daughter of the late Dale Howard Parke and May Taylor Parke. Her family roots were Mormon from Idaho and Utah. She was a direct descendant of John Taylor, the 3^rdPresident of the Church of the Latter-day Saints. 

Blossom was the youngest of four sisters - Joy, Patricia, Portia and Blossom. In her youth she graduated from Los Angeles High School with high honors. She was fond of her high school memories seeing Jesse Owens at the 1936 summer Olympics, meeting Jackie Robinson in her home and writing songs for and performing in her high school musicals. She graduated at age 17 and then attended Stanford University to study pre-law, piano, and music. There she met fellow student James R. McBrier of Erie, Pennsylvania. 

Blossom and Jim married in Los Angeles on September 1, 1945, and returned to Erie to live and raise their family. In their early years together, the family grew to include four children. Blossom supervised the children and supported her Jim in his purchase and renewal of Erie’s respected locally owned department store, Trasks, Prescott and Richardson. 

In the ensuing seven decades Blossom committed herself to support the Erie community. She served as President of the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra and as President of the Erie Junior League. Further, she served as a member of the first Pennsylvania Arts Council under then Governor Schafer.  She raised funds and organized the installation of Erie’s first planetarium, the Spitz Planetarium now located at the Penn State Behrend campus. In the 1960s, she worked with the late Mayor Louis J. Tullio as Chairman of the Civic Center Planning Commission. Years later she helped cut the ribbon on Erie’s new Civic Center.  Recently, she worked with others to secure the installation of the Wurlitzer Organ in Erie’s Warner Theater Renovation. 

Blossom was a renaissance woman. 

She was a musician. As an accomplished pianist, she was often seen and heard playing classical music in her home – or on any other available piano. Just five years ago she entertained her beloved Tuesday Morning Music Club with a concert featuring Beethoven, Chopin, and Schubert. 

She was an artist. She painted, sculpted, and made ceramics. Her creations, water and oil paintings, bronze sculptures and whimsical animal ceramics adorn her Fairview home and the homes of her children, grandchildren, and friends. Blossom worked on her art at New York’s Chautauqua Institute, where she spent summers, at her home in Sea Island, Georgia and at her home studio in Fairview. 

She was a naturalist. She became a national expert on rhododendrons and supported the Erie gardening community. Her home in Fairview features spectacular trees, gardens, and plants, including rhododendron hybrids developed and named by Blossom. Annually, she would open her gardens to the public at peak rhododendron season.  Her discussion of her garden work can be found on You Tube under Brier Hill Gardens, Fairview.  

In her younger years, Blossom was an avid golfer. She played with Jim and her many friends and competed in tournaments. She won the women’s Kahkwa Club trophy numerous times and was an Erie City champion finalist. She was always ready to help someone with their putting stroke and as she aged, encouraged younger women to join her as a member of the U.S Women’s Senior Golf Association. Jim and Blossom traveled the world playing golf with the People-to- People organization. 

Blossom loved her dogs. Her family loved her sand tarts. They were always served with a perfect apple pie at the holiday feasts she hosted. 

Blossom was predeceased by her husband James R. McBrier in 1997. 

She is survived by her children: James P. McBrier, Diana McBrier Wolfe, Fredrick P. McBrier, Dale R. McBrier and her grandchildren Brandon McBrier, Eleanor McBrier, Matthew McBrier, David McBrier, James T. McBrier, Parker McBrier, Walter McBrier, David Hendrich, Jeffrey Hendrich, Jennifer Hendrich, Justin Hendrich, Taylor Hendrich, Andrea Roenick and 15 great-grandchildren. 

Blossom and Jim raised their family of four children in the classic tradition. Honesty, integrity and commitment to family and community were the foundation. In this time of reflection, the family honors the extraordinary life of Blossom. 

A Celebration of Blossom’s Life will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, September 3^rd at Brier Hill, Fairview, Pennsylvania. Memorials may be made by planting a tree in a special place of your choosing. 

Arrangements are under the care of Burton Quinn Scott Cremation & Funeral Services West Ridge, 3801 W. 26^th St., Erie.