Colby Taylor BLANCHARD

Colby Taylor Blanchard lived seven wonderful years. She was our angel, taken suddenly from us along with her father, Chris, in an airplane accident Thursday evening, June 23, 2005. Her life was extinguished early, but her light will continue to shine brightly in her mother, Cyndi Blanchard, and her brothers, Evan and Hugh Engels. Colby lived her short life in Jonesboro, Ark., and had completed first grade with honors at Valley View Elementary. Visitation will be at St. Joseph Cathedral on Monday, June 27, from 8:30 a.m. until religious service at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Carencro, near Lafayette. She will be buried next to her father, Chris, and uncle, Mike. She is survived by her mother, Cyndi Hughes Blanchard; brothers, Evan Engels, Jonesboro, Ark., and Hugh Engels, Zachary; maternal grandparents, Judy and Charles Hughes, Zachary; paternal grandmother, Sylvia H. Blanchard, Baton Rouge; grandfathers, Jim Johnson, New Roads, and Carl Blanchard, Lafayette; great-grandmother, Ma Ma Hanks, Scott; aunts and uncles, Cathy Karras, St. Francisville, Charles Jr., Chicago, Todd Hughes and his wife, Susan, Baton Rouge, and Mark and Malaura Blanchard, Baton Rouge; special aunt, Lorraine Wells, St. Francisville; cousins, Lauren Hughes, Kathleen Guarisco, Victoria Blanchard and Tara and Zack Blanchard; and other special relatives. She departed this earth with her beloved father, Chris Blanchard, and was preceded in death by her uncle, Mike Blanchard. Colby enjoyed swimming, dancing and cheerleading. She had mastered the art of jump rope. She adored her little dog, Jett, and had many friends in Arkansas and Louisiana. She was proud that her school, Valley View Elementary, was voted No. 1 academically in the state of Arkansas! Colby loved her friends, her family and her church, Trinity, but most of all she loved the Lord. Special thanks to Trinity Church for all the prayers and support. We will all miss Colby singing "I love Jesus, yes I do. I love Jesus, how 'bout you?" In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trinity Church, 701 E. Highland Dr., Jonesboro, AK 72401. Published in The Advocate on 6/26/2005.