Obituary of Cleta Blanchard

Cleta Arlene Blanchard, 92, of Augusta, Georgia, formerly of Doniphan, Missouri, departed this life Friday, March 28, 2014, at Westwood Nursing Center in Augusta. Mrs. Blanchard, daughter of the late John Jackson and Laura (Bratton) Ollar, was born October 19, 1921, in the Bennett community of Ripley County, Missouri. She had retired as a packer/machine operator at Vitronic Manufacturing in Doniphan and was a member of the Doniphan First Baptist Church. On January 22, 1944, she was married to James Polk Blanchard in St. Louis, Missouri, and he preceded her in death on August 3, 1986. Surviving are two children: a daughter, Beth Loftis of Evans, Georgia, and one son, Jim (Dianne) Blanchard of Sikeston, Missouri; 4 grandchildren, Elaine Millsaps of Marietta, Georgia, Dwayne (Tonya) Loftis of Augusta, Georgia, Brad (Stephanie) Blanchard of Kansas City, Missouri, and Brent (Shannon) Blanchard of Des Moines, Iowa; and 5 great-grandchildren, Madison Millsaps, Ryan Loftis, Barrett Loftis, Delaney Blanchard and Leighton Blanchard. She was also preceded in death by five brothers, Frank Ollar, Paul Ollar, Harry Ollar, Homer Ollar and Fred Ollar; four sisters, Stella Johnson, Edna Gordon, Reva Roberts and a twin sister, Leta Steele; and one grandson in-law, Greg Millsaps. Visitation for Mrs. Blanchard will begin Tuesday morning, April 1, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Brother Luther Abbott officiating. Burial will be in the Doniphan City Cemetery.