FAIRVIEW ALPHA, LA
May 17, 1942-Nov. 18, 2020
Billie Sue Blanchard, 78, of Fairview Alpha passed away peacefully in her sleep Nov. 18, 2020. She was born May 17, 1942, to John Henry and Belva Lee Wren.
She married the love of her life, Len Blanchard, June 6, 1964, in Fairview Alpha.
Funeral services will be Thursday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home, Coushatta. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until service time.
Billie Sue and Len loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing and being at the lake. Billie Sue especially loved to fish and would sit in a boat all day in hopes of one bite on her line. She loved to catch fish, cook fish and a family fish fry was her favorite time, especially if her choice, a mudcat, landed on her plate. She had great times at the squirrel camp on the lake and the fishing camp at Cloud Crossing, always taking care of everyone and every detail.Billie Sue spent her life taking care of family members in their time of need, giving advice especially if it entailed “old wives tales” and making everyone feel like they were a special part of her family.
She worked many years as a teacher’s aide at Fairview Alpha School and had a large role in the Fairview Alpha Independent School where all the kids there were loved and treated as her own. Though she only had one child, she loved children and being involved in school activities. She attended countless ballgames, programs, dinners and practices.
Her greatest joy in her life was her grandchildren and three great-granddaughters.
Billie Sue was preceded in death by her parents; brother, John Henry “Pop” Wren Jr.; and in-laws, Manboy and Dorothy Blanchard; and nephew, Roger Longino.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Len; daughter and son-in-law, Juanice and Ralph Gray; grandchildren, Pamela Jill Gray Bamberg and husband Earl, and Hank Gray; great-granddaughters, her namesake Grayci Sue, Remington Rose and Freya Pearl; and sister-in-law and husband, Evelyn and Gene Longino; nephews, Michael and Brad Longino and Kyle Wren; niece, Kerri Wren Hester; and a host of other family and friends.
Special thanks to her sitter, Ann Smith and Hospice of Natchitoches, especially Haley, Dorcas “Dot”, Misty and Casey for the love and compassion shown as she battled Alzheimers.
Honoring her memory as pallbearers are Freddy Blanchard, Gill Hubbard, Terry Chesser, Earl Dickson Jr., Joe Stewart and Michael Longino.
Honorary pallbearers are Ralph Gray, Hank Gray, Earl Bamberg, Charles Blanchard and Doug Giddens.
In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations in her name to Shriners Hospital, Shreveport. Send to Shriner’s Hospital, Office of Development, Billie Sue Blanchard, 3100 Samford Ave., Shreveport, LA 71103. Thank you!
