Clara Lue Blankenship

Our beloved “Momma,” passed away on June 21, 2016 at the age of 60. Clara Jones Blankenship was born to Herman and Evalena Laird Jones on March 24, 1956 in Kountze, Texas. As a child, she moved with her family to Vidor. She attended school at Vidor High School. Her life changed when she met the brother of her good friend who had recently returned from the Vietnam War, She fell instantly in love with her beloved Paul. They would remain inseparable for 44 years. Clara spent her life caring for others. She was a dedicated mother and daughter. When anyone needed help, she was the one who was called upon because her family knew that Clara would never say no. As her children grew, she and Paul took to the road. They traveled throughout the country seeing the sights from the windshield of Paul’s big rig. The only thing that would bring her home would be her grandchildren. It was Clara’s greatest joy to be Granny. She loved her grandchildren in a way that words cannot describe. In October 2011, she was diagnosed Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. Clara became a valiant warrior and mentor to those experiencing the disease. Eventually God released Clara from her pain and brought her home. We praise God because our momma has been set free from the chains of cancer and is flying high in heaven.
Clara is preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Evalena Jones, brother Lamar Jones, her infant son, Daniel Ray Blankenship who she finally got to see in Heaven. She is survived by her husband, Paul Blankenship of Vidor, daughters Lori Losey and husband Todd of Vidor, Samantha McCormick and husband Christopher of Beaumont, son Adam Blankenship and wife Sarah of Vidor, sisters, Patricia LeDoux, Peggy Smith and Ethel Jones of Vidor. Evelyn Havard and husband James of Koutnze and Julia Thomas and husband Ed of Chula Vista CA, grandchildren Brock and Luke Losey, Meghan and Benjamin McCormick, and Cole and Brady Blankenship. Visitation will be at 6pm on Friday June 24 at Memorial Funeral Home in Vidor. A funeral service will be held Saturday, June 25 at 10 a.m. at Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Park in Vidor. Serving as pallbearers will be Adam Blankenship, Todd Losey, Kris Summers, Danny Pender, Eddie Zunker, Jason Zunker. Honorary pallbearers will be Christopher McCormick and Brock Losey. The family would like to thank Harbor Hospice and all those who assisted with Clara’s care.