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Preston Blanchard Obituary

Preston Blanchard Sr. passed away on December 27, 2010 in Tyler, Texas. Preston was retired after 38 years of military service both active and reserve. He also retired after 30 years of service as a coach and educator. He was a lifetime member of the Jennings VFW post, where he served as post commander for two terms, and a member of the Sulphur American Legion and a former member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. Preston loved sports, especially football. He was a avid reader and writer who loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and his dog Sam. Preston loved dancing, singing and visiting with others.
He is survived by his wife, Diana Judd Blanchard of Tyler, TX; children Laurie Blanchard Doucet and husband Jimmy of Katy, TX, Vickie Blanchard Broussard and husband Roger of Lake Charles, LA, Preston "Abey" Blanchard Jr. and wife Monica of Hathaway, LA, Mark Blanchard and wife Ann of Dayton, TX, Chad Blanchard and wife Chrissy of Carlyss, LA, Kellie Blanchard, also of Carlyss, LA, Tobie Blanchard Phillips and husband Paul of Hampden, ME, and Melanie Blanchard Little and husband Lonnie of Tyler, TX; 25 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings - brother Whitney Blanchard; sister Ellen Loup; brother Wayne Blanchard; and sister Ruth Vigier.
Preston is preceded in death by his parents, Whitney O. and Alice Marie Martinez Blanchard; sisters Mary Blanchard Lawson, Dolores Blanchard Doss, and Annabelle Blanchard Bonvillion; and a brother, Lawrence Blanchard.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Raymond on Friday December 31, 2010 at 10 a.m. with committal to follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held at Hixson Funeral Home of Welsh from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday with a rosary to be prayed at 7 p.m. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com

Published by Southwest Daily News from Dec. 30, 2010 to Jan. 6, 2011.
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Memories and Condolences
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You are all in my thoughts and prayers. I remember him so well whenever Welsh Roanoke Junior HIgh played Hathaway.
God bless you in this most trying time.

Becky Hudson

January 3, 2011

To "Mama Blanchard" Laurie and all. I am sorry for your loss. I know words can not make the pain go away but time can ease the loss. "Daddy Blanchard" was a "jewel" in my book. I remember he did not know what to do with me as Brenda and I were in his PE class for the boys. We sure had fun and enjoyed many laughs in those years. In those days he sure enjoyed his "cokes" as he called them. He helped to make my teen age years enjoyable. He will remain a very fond memory for me. He was a great teacher that taught through laughter and example. He made Hathaway High School a great place to be everyday. My family sends our love, thoughts and prayers. Dolores (Hicks) Mike, Elizabeth and Kevin Walker in Bartlett, TN with Victoria, Tony and Kathleen Curtis, Millington, TN

Dolores Hicks Walker

January 1, 2011

Diane, Toby and family: Art and I were very sad to learn of the passing of Preston. We have shared many a gumbo with he and Diane on their trips to Maine. He was a colorful character to say the least. We will miss the spirited conversations about politics and sports. Preston is the only person I know that can make the name Snowe into two syllables "Your Senator Olympia S-nowe" with hands flailing in the air. Ahhh we will miss you Preston, rest in peace my friend, rest in peace...

Love, Art and Val Webster

January 1, 2011

I would like to offer a message of comfort and hope to your family. God promises better days ahead where pain and suffering will be gone forever. The words of Psalms 37:10, 11, & 29 are very encouraging and comforting. May those words comfort you all during this trying time.

Desiree

January 1, 2011

I'm very sorry to hear of Coach Blanchards passing. He was a wonderful teacher. He was also a loving husband and father. He will be truly missed. I would recognize that smile anywhere. He could light up a room! And I'll always remember his strong hands. Just by him laying his hand on you shoulder would make you want to cringe. LOL My prayers go out to his family and friends.

Gaina Clement Fontenot

December 31, 2010

When you know a family as close as I know ya'll's it's kind of hard to not know that someone's not gonna be around, yet the serenity of knowing that as a family you grew and conquered great heights and all in the Lord's Grace (I think sometimes) I've been there and I know that has a personal friend we've lost one who has touched many, many, peoples lives cause I KNOW THAT MAYBE MOTHER CAN HEAR HIM NOW.

GOD BLESS AND ALL KEEP IN TOUCH
BO

Bo Welch

December 31, 2010

Do not forget to meet all your difficulties with love and laughter. Be assured that God is with you. Remember, remember, it is the last few yards that tell. Do not fail God. He cannot fail you. Rest in His Love.
This was the Person whom I knew and lived his life to the fullest. He was a wonderful Father, Husband, Grandfather, and most of all Friend.

May God Bless all and now Mother could probably hear Him(Even as loud as he was) Keep in touch all and I also feel that I'm kinda part of the family.
Bo

December 31, 2010

I was so saddened to hear of Coach Blanchard's passing. He was a great person and a wonderfully entertaining teacher.
Though my family and I are out of town, my thoughts and prayers are with the entire Blanchard family.
Sharla Daigle Hardy

December 31, 2010

Our prayers are with you all. We've already been missing our visits with Diane and Preston, neither of us have been free to travel. But there is email which we use sometimes daily. I have fond memories of Preston's debating style at campouts and I can hear him laughing right now. What a trouper. When Diane disapproves of Howard's teasing she points that waving finger at him. Hilarious, became a tradition around here providing a good laugh.

Cousin Diane...you are on my mind all the time.

Love and prayers,
Barb & Howard

December 31, 2010

My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of grief. I shall remember with great fondness Uncle Preston's great and wonderful laugh.

Jane Bonvillian Hemenway

December 30, 2010

Our deepest sympathy to the Blanchard family. A truly fun teacher to learn from, and loved by many, many students of Hathaway High School. Stephen, Patty and Cole Hebert

Stephen Hebert

December 30, 2010

We were saddened to hear of Preston's passing although it sounds like it was finally time. At first we were worried Diane wouldn't know what to do with herself until I read the obit and remembered the two of them had created a downline of 50 direct descendants in just three generations. No wonder us democrats are having so much trouble! ;-)

From our first meeting at a campground in Bull Shoals, Arkansas we disagreed on almost everything but the time of day. And if I remember correctly we even disagreed on that until we sorted out what time zone we were in. My mom, Barb, Diane's cousin, and Howard are more practiced at keeping religion and politics to themselves. My wife Leanne and I, not so much. ;-) In fact, that's one of the few things we had in common with Preston.

Within just a few minutes of meeting we had the whole trailer in an uproar. Diane, lacking Preston's appetite for disagreement, Soon discovered an urgent need for groceries and ordered Preston out to the store. Leanne, never one to quit in the heat of battle, jumped up and climbed into the pickup with him and off they went, laughing and slinging verbal barbs back and forth like two kids in a water fight. As they returned, it was their voices that alerted us long before we heard the truck.

I doubt either of us will ever find anyone as agreeably disagreeable as Preston. We'll miss him and hope Diane will still find just a tolerable bit of an uproar in life so as not to miss him too badly.

Brian & Leanne Jewett

December 30, 2010

Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

John, Erin, Johnny and Shannon Dalberth

December 30, 2010

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