Raymond "Ray" Joseph Blanchard Sr.

Raymond "Ray" Joseph Blanchard Sr., 81, a native and resident of Houma, died at 9:08 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. Visitation will be from 5 to 10 p.m. Monday at Chauvin Funeral Home and from 8 a.m. to funeral time Tuesday at St. Bernadette Catholic Church. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church with burial in St. Francis de Sales Cemetery No. 2. He is survived by his wife, Carol Bonvillain Blanchard of Houma; three sons, Raymond "Pinky" Blanchard and wife, Paula, Darren Small and wife, Kim, and Lanny Small and wife, Mona, of Houma; four daughters, Dr. Susan Blanchard and husband, Leo Kalik of Pass Christian, Miss., Mary Ellen Tanner, Jan Cancienne and husband, Wayne, and Carla Starr and husband, Richard, of Houma; his former wife, Betty Engeron of Houma; one brother, James Blanchard of Houma; and 11 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Raoul Blanchard and Bernice Roddy Blanchard; and three brothers, Millard, Allen and Donald Blanchard. He was a retired self-employed oil field gauger. He was a U.S. Army and Air Force veteran who served during World War II. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Woodmen of the World and the American Legion. He was a beloved husband, father and grandfather who had a passion for flying. He was a parishioner of St. Bernadette Catholic Church.