Margaret Ellen Blanchard, age 100, passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 20, 2018 in the home where she had lived and raised a family for 68 years.
Margy, as she was called by her family, was born October 11, 1917 in Paris, Tennessee. She attended Grove High School in Paris where she was homecoming queen her senior year graduating in 1935. She continued on with her education attending Ward Belmont, Christian College and the University of Missouri graduating with a degree in Sociology. While at Missouri, she pledged the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and was proud to be a Kappa for 79 years. It was during her school years in Columbia that she met the love of her life, Karl Blanchard. Margy and Karl were married November 11, 1942 just shortly before he left for the South Pacific to help fight World War II. During the war she worked at Camp Tyson in Tennessee. After the war the couple returned to Joplin where they began to raise a family. While raising three children she also participated in many activities and services outside the home. She was in PEO, Women’s Club, Ridpath, worked as a volunteer with the St. John’s Auxiliary and served as an Elder at the First Presbyterian Church. In the late 40s and early 50s she was active in the Joplin Little Theatre.
Margy is survived by her three children, Karl Jr. (Alice), Ellen Eastman (Mark) and Kent (Karolee), seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Her husband of 65 years, Karl Sr., predeceased her in 2007 as did her first granddaughter, Renee Blanchard, in 1986.
With her passing, the Missouri Football Tigers have lost one of their most loyal and avid fans.
A memorial service will be held Friday, August 3, 2018 at the First Presbyterian Church in Joplin starting at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations may be made to the Karl and Margaret Ellen Blanchard Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of the University of Missouri Tiger Scholarship Fund or the First Presbyterian Church, Joplin. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri.
No comments:
Post a Comment