Donald Howard Blanchette, age 83, of Orange, Texas passed away on Thursday, June 30, 2016 at Harbor Hospital of Southeast Texas in Beaumont, Texas.  Funeral services will be held at Dorman Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 at 10:00 AM, with a committal service immediately following at Autumn Oaks Memorial Park.  Visitation for family and friends will be on Monday, July 4, 2016 from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Dorman Funeral Home.

Don was born on Saturday, March 25, 1933 in Grand Chenier, Louisiana to the late Lena (Broussard) and Otar Blanchette.  He was a lifelong resident of Orange, Texas, where he lived with his wife of 57 years, Margie Sue Blanchette.  Don, before retiring, served as Fire Marshall for The City of Orange Fire Department.  He also was the original President of the Board for the Little Cypress Volunteer Fire Department.  Don was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Orange, where he was a church Deacon.  For 22 years, Don and his wife, Margie, opened their home as foster parents to the children of southeast Texas.  When Don wasn’t serving his community or working faithfully with the church, you could find him doing wood work or tending to the tomatoes in his vegetable garden.  Don was also a passionate fisherman and he loved to spend time camping.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lena and Otar Blanchette; his three sisters; his two brothers; and great-grandson, Jude Singer.

Don is survived by his wife, Margie Sue Blanchette; his daughter, Winona Beard of Friendswood, Texas; his son, Lloyd Blanchette and his wife, Joyce of Orange, Texas; his grandchildren, Travis Blanchette, Rachel Blanchette, Jessica Singer, Kandice Smith, Corbin Beard, and Chris Beard; and his great-grandchildren, Ellie Smith, Jaxson Singer, and Jadon Singer.

Honoring Don as pallbearers are Charlie Phillips, Ron Jones, Don Ball, Joel Wagnon, Weldon Townsend, and John Martin. Honorary Pallbearers are the Deacons of First Baptist Church of Orange.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions on behalf of Don Blanchette may be made to the building fund for First Baptist Church - Orange, located at 7637 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Orange, Texas 77632 – (409) 886 -7461.

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