Allen Blanchard

BreauxBridge - A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated a 1 p.m., on Friday, March 11, 2011 at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Breaux Bridge, for Allen Blanchard, Sr. 71, who passed away at his residence. Interment will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery II in Breaux Bridge. Fr. Michael Delcambre will officiate at the Funeral Mass. Fathers Paul LaFleur Fr. Neil McNeil will also be attending. Altar Servers will be grandchildren Erin Jeanne Blanchard, Peter Harris and Georgie Mae Harris. Scriptures will be read by granddaughter, Catherine Adele Blanchard, cousins, Charlene LeBlanc Rose Green. Gifts will be presented to the Altar by grandchildren, Georgie McBride, Sophie Mae and Jeanne Marie Brady; Mary Elizabeth Harris and Therese Harris and Josie Blanchard, Eucharistic Ministers will be Jerry Sonnier and sister, Ozia Theriot. Allen was recognized and respected for his honesty and integrity as a public official and for his dedication and strong work ethic in both his public and private life. His willingness to serve and to help people on a daily basis was the way he lived every day of his life. In 1995 Allen was elected St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court. He was re-elected, unopposed, for 3 more terms. Because of his illness he retired in April of 2010. Allen was the first Clerk to implement an up to date imaging system within the Clerks' offices. He also initiated a process to encapsulate historical records dating back to the 1700's. He was instrumental in the construction of the new St. Martin Parish Courthouse and worked diligently with all parish officials to make certain that the new facility would meet the needs of the public which he loved to serve. Prior to serving as St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court, Allen was employed as Chief Deputy Assessor for St. Martin Parish Assessor's office. He retired from the Assessor's office in 1996 with 27 years of service. Allen retired with 23 years of service from the Louisiana National Guard at the rank of Major. In 1970 he was honored by being selected as the Outstanding Unit Commander for the state of Louisiana. He commanded Company A, 3rd Battalion, 256th Infantry Division and also served at Battalion and Brigade staff levels. Under his command, Company A was recognized as the Outstanding Unit in the State of Louisiana and awarded the prestigious Eisenhower Trophy. Allen was also very active in community services, serving as past president and member of St. Martin Cattlemen's Association, past president, secretary and member of the St. Martin Rotary Club, King Rotary, vice president of the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Association, Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival Crawfish King, former member of the Parks K.C.'s, Breaux Bridge Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Breaux Bridge Masonic Lodge, charter member of the 911 Commission, and a member St. Martin Parish Recycling Commission. Among his many recognitions and awards for his public service, he was very proud of his 2001 Civic Award, presented by the Breaux Bridge Chamber of Commerce. Allen was a devout Catholic and lifelong parishioner of St. Bernard Catholic Church in Breaux Bridge , where he served as an usher for over 40 years and a former lector and lay minister. His deep faith and love for God and family has been an example for all who knew him. A dedicated and loving husband, father and grandfather, Allen was married to his high school sweetheart, Georgie, for 49 years. He told his children he loved Georgie the first time he saw her. Besides love for his wife and family, he enjoyed raising cattle, baling hay with his son Al and his brother Leon, going to the camp at Butte La Rose, traveling, and being with his fellow Clerks throughout the state. He was a man of many talents including, welding, carpentry, mechanic and farming. He frequently told his children, 'The only thing he couldn't fix was a broken heart.' Survivors include his wife, Georgie Zeringue Blanchard of Breaux Bridge; his son Allen Blanchard, Jr., and his wife Clair Angelle Blanchard, of Cecilia, Maria Brady and her husband James Brady of New Orleans, Jeanne McBride, and her husband Colonel David McBride, of Heidelberg, Germany, Georgie (Gigi) Harris and her husband Russ Harris of Breaux Bridge/Cecilia; sisters, Ozia Theriot and her husband Clarence, Elize Wiltz, Alana (Nana) Belaire; brothers, Leon Blanchard and his wife Rose, Abel Blanchard and his wife Edith, all of Breaux Bridge; 13 grandchildren, David, Jimmie, Michael Georgie Ann McBride; Catherine, Erin and Josie Blanchard, Sophie Jeanne Marie Brady, and Peter, Georgie Mae, Mary and Therese Harris. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paulin and Alice LeBlanc Blanchard; brothers, Drozin, Robert, Paulin Leo; sisters, Noelie Guidry, Lota Fruge, Eunice LeBlanc, Solange Blanchard Marie Landry; and by Georgie's parents, Jimmie and Mae Huval Zeringue. The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 1:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Thursday and continue on Friday at 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Pall Bearers will be, Addie Leon Blanchard, Jeanne B. McBride, Maria B. Brady, Gigi B. Harris, grandsons David, Jimmie, and Michael McBride and Allen Blanchard, Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be cousins Edwin and Lennis Allemond, Sgt. Annette Romero, lifelong friends David Dugas, Jerry Sonnier, The Honorable Richard 'Dickie' Haik, brother-in-law Clarence Theriot, and St. Martin Parish Assessor Lawrence Patin, employees of the St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court's office and Louisiana Clerk of Courts. The family would like to especially thank Tilly Duplechin for her devoted care giving and to the many friends and family who have been of support with their prayers, visits, meals and love. Also, a special thanks to Hospice of Acadiana. Pellerin Funeral Home, 211 Berard St. , BreauxBridge, LA 70517 (337.332.2199), is in charge of arrangements. To view on-line obituary, sign guestbook and view video tribute, go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com