Laura Ann Cuff Blanchard

1947 - 2022

Laura Ann Cuff Blanchard

1947~2022

Laura Ann Cuff Blanchard, a fiercely loving mother and champion of victims, whose heart had more love than could be comprehended, was unable to withstand the complications from an open heart surgery and passed away unexpectedly on December 19, 2022.

Laura was born to Virginia and Ward Cuff on February 23, 1947 in Logan, Utah. As a child she lived in Logan, Parowan, Panguitch, St. George, and Elsinore, Utah, excelling at scholastics and running her own informal animal hospital. Laura and her siblings Camille and James lost their beloved father in 1955 when she was just 8 years old. However, in 1961 their family expanded to include George Anderson and his six beloved children and then added one together the following year. At the age of 16 Laura was awarded a scholarship to attend Brigham Young University where she completed her bachelor's degree in Zoology (with honors). During her Junior year at BYU, her high school relented and granted her high school diploma. Laura began postgraduate work with the intention of going to medical school. She was partway through postgraduate work when she devoted her life to full time wife and mother. Laura married Donald Blanchard in the St. George Temple on August 30, 1968. Don and Laura resided in Utah County throughout their marriage, primarily in Orem and recently in Lehi.

Laura always said her most precious gifts were her family. She was an amazing mother. Kindness, patience, service, insight and brilliance were her hallmarks and especially so in her parenting. She unfailingly dealt with stubbornness, sibling rivalry, rambunctiousness, mess and mayhem with a soft voice, kind word and helping hand. Laura mothered not just her own children but her daughters and sons-in-law, their families, their friends and essentially anyone who seemed to need it. She was always willing to listen, to guide and to actively help as needed.

Laura loved children, all children. Early years she devoted to PTA. Laura's early involvement with serving victims was as a rape crisis volunteer, member of the Utah County Child Abuse Prevention Council and various positions at the local and state level with the Crime Victim's Rights Council. She was integral in establishing a multi-disciplinary special victims task force for victims in Utah County and various other state and local services, which are too many to list.

Laura was central to bringing the Children's Justice Center program to Utah (see Utah CJC, Utah County CJC). Laura, with others lobbied with legislators to pass the first CJC pilot programs in Utah in 1991. Laura served as a member of the Friends of the Utah County Children's Justice Center from its formation until the day she died. Laura engaged in every aspect of the establishment of the Utah County CJC. Laura served as the second director of the Utah County CJC in 1995 until her retirement in 2013. No aspect of the functions of the CJC was too large or too small for her to tackle. Laura was everywhere that required attention at the center…she did it all. Laura excelled at building and maintaining necessary community partnerships; whether her peers agreed with her or not, she universally won their respect. Laura's accomplishments at the CJC cannot be summarized simply in a paragraph as they are far too vast and her legacy continues to serve the children in our community today and for the future hereafter. (see 2007 Deseret News Article)

Laura was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout her life and attended the temple frequently. Laura was an avid genealogist, spending many hours researching and planning her New England vacations scouring town hall records and graveyards.

Laura and Don's partnership was and continues to be one of profound love and respect, of enduring sweetness for more than 50 years. They were always a team. Many hours were spent together solving any Sudoku or crossword puzzle that came to hand. They delighted in each other and shared that delight with any who were fortunate enough to enter their orbit, even briefly.

She is survived by her husband Donald E. Blanchard; her children: Virginia Blanchard, Alice Walters (m. Brian Walters), Donald Blanchard (m. Gloria Savetilik), Daniel Blanchard (m. Lisa Crawford), David Blanchard (m. Melissa Jones), Douglas Blanchard (m. Maria Neal) Elizabeth Bullington (m. John Bullington) and Dustin Blanchard; her grandchildren: Amelia Stoker (Virginia)-Casey Merrill, Kaylee Bowen, Mason and Lucy Holyoak (Alice)-Tegan Oleson, Daniel Blanchard (Donald)-Wesley, Zachary and Riley Blanchard (Daniel)-Megan, David, Anna and Elijah Blanchard (David)-Everett, Cameron, Ward and Nora Jean Blanchard (Douglas)-Ethan, Gabriel and Jadyn Robertson, Breck and Addison Bullington (Elizabeth); her great-grandchildren: Caroline Stoker-Dottie and (soon to arrive) Archer Bowen; her siblings: Donald Anderson, James Cuff, Jane Gourley, Camille Simonsen, Janet Filmore, Joyce Cottle, Douglas Anderson, Dean Anderson, and Margaret Christiansen; as well as numerous brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Memorial services celebrating her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on January 2, 2023 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel at 1631 East 900 North Lehi, UT 84043. Laura's family honored her with a private burial on December 23rd, 2022 at the Lehi Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please direct donations in her memory to the Friends of the Utah County Children's Justice Center through Venmo: @CJC-Provo