Obituary: Carmeletta Jo Blanchard, 86, The Dalles
Carmeletta Jo Blanchard (Jo) passed away at her home in The Dalles, Oregon, on July 9, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, other family, and friends had the chance to visit her over the past few weeks to love on her and say goodbye. Her family and friends will miss her but know that she is with her Lord in Heaven where she is happy and at peace.
Jo was born on May 17, 1937, in Tacoma, Washington, to Robert Marshall Simpson and Mabel Agnes (Eggman) Simpson. She was the firstborn of three children with a sister, Marsha Simpson, and a brother, Robert Simpson, Jr., born later.
When she was young, her family moved frequently between Tacoma, Washington, and various cities in California where they had family. Her father loved to travel and thought nothing of taking off on a Friday evening from Northern California to drive to Tacoma, Washington, and then drive home to be back at work on Monday morning. Eventually, they settled in Mosier, Oregon, where Jo met the love of her life, Dwaine Blanchard. Jo and Dwaine married on August 25, 1956, in Mosier, Oregon, and soon began their family.
After they were married, Dwaine, a recent Air Force veteran, went to airplane mechanics school in Eugene, Oregon. Once he finished, they moved to Kent, Washington, where Dwaine worked for Boeing. After a few years, Dwaine changed careers to become a journeyman electrician. They eventually settled in Mosier and Jo spent most of her life raising her children and making a warm, welcoming home for their family there. Jo and Dwaine had three children and then in 1976, her sister passed away and four of her six children came to live with them. Jo and Dwaine opened their home to various family and friends whenever there was a need.
Jo loved her family selflessly and gave of her time freely as a Sunday school and vacation bible school teacher, room mom, and Girl Scout leader, and supported Dwaine and her boys with their Boy Scout commitments.
Jo’s main focus was her family and she worked only occasional temporary jobs outside the home until most of her children were grown. However, she had an entrepreneurial spirit and started several successful small businesses on her own. When her children were very young, she had a custom cake decorating business and made special-order wedding and party cakes. For several years she maintained a wholesale egg business buying and selling eggs from common and rare fowl to customers throughout the world. In the 1980s, she started her own business, Kalidacrafts, making and selling hand-crafted vinegar blends, crafts, egg creations, jewelry, and more at craft fairs and through individual mail orders all over Oregon and Washington. For several years she was the Mosier Avon Lady.
She had the soul of an artist and loved to paint, craft, and create. She was a voracious reader and knowledgeable about many topics.
Jo eventually began volunteering to tutor college students. At age 57 she started college to get a certificate as a Paraprofessional Education Assistant from Portland Community College in The Dalles, Oregon, to help her be a better tutor.
She inherited her father’s love of travel and loved nothing more than to take long trips anywhere, anytime, especially to the Oregon coast. Her youngest son lives in Fairbanks, Alaska, and she was always ready to travel there for any reason. She loved exploring new places, finding just the right souvenir for everyone on her list, and spending quality time with family sharing her travel experiences.
Jo loved animals and for most of her life had cats and dogs as pets. Over the years she also had chickens, ducks, geese, guinea hens, rabbits, goats, turkeys, a pony, and many other stray animals brought home by her children.
She was a long-time member of the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church she attended with Dwaine.
Jo is survived by her husband, Dwaine, her children Timber Chinn (husband Allan), Del Blanchard (wife Irene), Arny Blanchard (wife Leila), and their “adopted” daughter, niece Brynnie Simpson (husband Greg). She is also survived by her brother, Robert Simpson Jr. Jo has 10 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, 2 nieces, and 3 nephews. She is predeceased by her parents and sister.
Jo was a selfless, giving, God-loving woman who will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
There will be a celebration of life service for Jo at Sovereign Grace Baptist Church on August 19, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. for family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the church may be sent to 1103 Sunflower Street W., The Dalles, Oregon 97058.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.
Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.
