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Sunny (McComas) Blanchard was born in Hill, New Mexico to Chester and Ethel McComas, May 7, 1932. Sunny was the second of four children: Betty, Billy, and Lionel. During the Depression, the McComas family moved to Indiana for her dad to work at the Dupont Plant and then to Louisiana to work on the Mississippi River Bridge. She lost her father when she was 17 years old. Sunny went on to graduate Valedictorian from Baton Rouge High School in 1950.
Sunny met Jesse on the sawdust trail of the Louisiana Nazarene Church Camp Meeting in Pineville, Louisiana. Jesse said, "It was love at first sight!" But, he didn't know that Sunny had seen him earlier that summer at the District Nazarene Young People's Convention when Jesse was giving his church report and she heard his testimony through tearful eyes with such sincerity. She went home and told her mother, "I saw the fella I'm going to marry one day." Sunny fell in love with Jesse's heart.
Sunny moved to Oklahoma to attend Bethany Peniel College, now Southern Nazarene University. While in college, she worked for the Children's Convalescent Hospital, now The Children's Center Rehabilitation Hospital, as a secretary.
On December 16th, 1952, Sunny and Jesse Blanchard were united in holy matrimony by Bro. Leo Lawrence. To this union 4 children were born: Stan, Charlotte, Terrell, and LaDonna.
In April 1964, while still in the hospital after delivering their youngest child, Sunny trusted and supported her husband's decision to start his own business, Blanchard's Tree Service. Sunny ran the home office while raising her children and, 53 years later, the business and family continue to run smoothly because of her.
Mother was spiritual. The Lord was first in her life. She would have routine devotion and prayer time with her family when they were still home and this continued even after they left home. Friends and family who stopped by would be included if they rang the doorbell during this time. Pulling a scripture from the "Bread of Life" was a Blanchard practice.
Mother was faithful. You could depend on Sunny. She was a dedicated Sunday School Teacher and embraced many children in the church nursery. "Oh, how she loved all children."
Mother was intelligent. She had a high aptitude for learning and understanding and fortunately her genes were strong and passed down to all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She could easily tutor her children and grandchildren in College Algebra and even studied the Bible in Spanish.
Mother loved music but more so for the purpose of ministry. She took piano lessons for years, but never had the talent to play. Alas, her teacher told her, "Sunny, you have more music in your head and heart than you do in your fingers." She reluctantly gave it up, but each of her children had the gift of music (likely she prayed for this) and the family sacrificed financially to make sure they had private lessons and Jesse sacrificed the sound of (what would later be music) four 30 minute required practice sessions six days a week. Today's ceremony is evidence of Sunny's love for Jesus, love for her family, and love for her friends.
After suffering a massive stroke June 5th, Sunny went to her eternal home on July 1st, 2017.
Sunny Blanchard leaves to cherish her memory and carry on her legacy: husband Jesse of 64 ½ years; brother Lionel McComas (Delores) Folsom, Louisiana; children: Stan Blanchard (Arlene) of Yukon, Oklahoma, Charlotte Venable (Ray) of Edmond, Dr. Terrell Blanchard (Karen) of Pocatello, Idaho, LaDonna Woods (Bobby) of Oklahoma City; 10 grandchildren: Shana Perry, Preston Venable, Aaron Clifford, Patrick Venable, Dr. Traci Clifford, Jill Echalk, Sarah Blanchard, Katie Blanchard, Hunter Blanchard, and Lawton Blanchard; 11 great-grandchildren and one on the way; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
Viewing will be Thursday, 9am-9pm with family present from 6-8pm at Mercer-Adams.
Services will be Friday, July 7th, 10:00am at Jernigan Memorial Church of the Nazarene, 3200 N. Hammond.
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