Obit – Mr. Ray Blanchard

Mr. Ray Blanchard of South Carthage departed this life at the age of 87 at 12:16 p.m. Friday afternoon June 13, 2025 at the Quality Center for Rehab and Healing in Lebanon where he was first admitted April 2nd.

Mr. Blanchard was at the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home and was scheduled to be cremated at Cumberland Family Services in Algood.

Family memorial services and interment will be at the New Hope Cemetery in Hopkins, Missouri. There will no visitation or services in Carthage.

A native of Amity Township in Page County, Iowa, he was born Raymond Arthur Blanchard on July 2, 1937 and was one of five children of the late Roy Denver Blanchard and Opal Viola Blackford Blanchard.

Mr. Blanchard was preceded in death by a son, Brett Solinger who died in 1984.

Also preceding him in death was a sister, Cathleen McIntyre, and two brothers, Roy Dean Blanchard and Glen M. Blanchard.

Mr. Blanchard relocated from Dolan Springs, Arizona to reside with his daughter, Susan,  a very familiar person who was a longtime clerk at the Tanglewood Market in the Tanglewood Community.

Mr. Blanchard was a graduate of the North Nodaway R VI High School in Hopkins, Missouri and Auto Diesel Vocational school.

He retired from the Line Company in 1999 as a diesel mechanic.

Mr. Blanchard was an avid reader, participating in book programs at the Smith County Library in Carthage and had an immense love for R. V. traveling.

On December 12, 1970 he was united in marriage at the First Christian Church in Hopkins to Patsy O’Doherty, who preceded him in death.

Survivors include his four children, Randall (Randy) Blanchard and wife Veronica of Alexandria, Susan Blanchard of South Carthage, Lynne Ledbetter and husband Shannon of Prairie Grove, Arizona, Lesley Hoffarth and husband Jay of St. Louis, Missouri; sister, Helen Lee Morrison of Maryville, Missouri; five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Those desiring to do a memorial may do so to the Smith County Library.

SANDERSON of CARTHAGE