Due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, meetings of the guild are currently happening on Zoom.

Dear Friends,

It is with a heavy heart that I share the news with you that our Maurice Blackburn passed away March 29 at his home. He was diagnosed about a month ago with cancer, after going to the doctor for a melanoma spot on his hip. He had been under hospice care at home, with family caring for him. His children all made it to see him, and were with him at the end.

Maurice had such a big presence, and was so active in our weaving and fiber community, that his absence will be felt.  As Shirley Young put it, there will be "Maurice-shaped holes" in all aspects of our community: in the weaving group, Piedmont Fiber Guild, the many fairs, Hart Square, all mechanical loom-related questions, carpools to meetings, leadership, not to mention his other interests of canoeing, Catawba Riverkeepers, and woodworking. We will all miss his presence in so many places in our lives.   

 Maurice was born August 16, 1931, in Northumberland, England to Benjamin and Hilda Blackburn. He attended school at Liverpool University in Liverpool, England where he received a Master's Degree in Science. During his career, he worked in the textile industry in England, emigrated to Canada in 1957, before setting up residence in Charlotte. Maurice was a dedicated employee to the American Barmag Corporation for over 20 years before his retirement. 

Maurice married Ursula in 1956 in Douglas, Isle of Man and they were happily married for 63 years. In addition to Ursula, he is survived by his daughers Hazel, Nancy and Jennifer Perry, along with his five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Maurice is also survived by his brother Harold of Ludlow, England. Maurice was preceded in death by his parents Benjamin and Hilda and a grandchild Tina Mengel. 

Maurice was a member of many organizations over the years, most recently he was an active member of the Piedmont Fiber Guild as well as the Mecklenburg Historical Society. A memorial service will be held at a future date this summer at Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville, NC 28078, an historical location that was special to Maurice. 

In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests that memorial donations be made to the organizations he was involved with: 

Piedmont Fiber Guild - PO Box 2, Gastonia, NC 28053 or online below.

Latta Plantation - Online at https://www.lattaplantation.org/ or

Rural Hill - P. O. Box 1009, Huntersville, NC 28070.