Updated: 08 Sep 2009
The Shawnee News-Star
Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma
December 20, 1997
Louella "Jill" Blanchard of Newalla died Thursday in Midwest City at the age of 54.
She was born Oct. 14, 1943, in Norman to Thomas and Minnie (Littlecreek) White and had lived in that area all her life. She was a 1958 graduate of Norman High School and a 1977 graduate of St. Gregory's College.
She married Henry "J.R." Blanchard Jr. and had worked as custodian at Little Axe School and at Nicoma Park Junior High School, from where she retired in 1995. She was a member of the Absentee Shawnee tribe and was active in tribal ceremonies prior to her illness.
Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Audrey and Edward Dodds, Azores Islands, Portugal; son, Terance "Terry" Blanchard; son and daughter-in-law, Russell and Amanda Blanchard, all of the home; stepson and daughter-in-law, Harry and Connie Blanchard, Choctaw; sisters, Edith Goodman, Neldean Littlecharley, Virginia White and Ruth Blanchard, all of Newalla; brother, Don White, Newalla; grandchildren, Jamie, Amber and Summer Blanchard, Matthew Blanchard, Clayton and Cody Dodds, and many other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1986 and her parents.
Tribal rites were Friday at the Blanchard family home with tribal Elder Floyd Switch officiating. Burial will be today at the White Family Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home, Tecumseh.
SOURCE: The Shawnee News-Star [Jan 2002]