Lois J. Blanchard
September 12, 1921 - February 9, 2014

Lois J (Thompson) Blanchard, born September 12, 1921 passed away peacefully on February 9, 2014 with her family by her side.

Lois was born and raised in the Leschi neighborhood of Seattle as one of six children and graduated from Garfield High School. Following high school she worked for Boeing and later for Pan American Airlines in their accounting department. In 1944 she moved to Fairbanks, Alaska where Pan Am needed employees to send weather in code to airplanes during the war. It was an amazing three year adventure including flying the milk runs into Sitka in planes on skids with bush pilots at the helm. When the war ended, she was the first of the Pan American Clipper 7 stewardesses to "fly Alaska" when it upgraded it's Alaska Fleet with C-47's purchased from the military. These became the DC-3 Clippers with service from Seattle to Alaska. After leaving Alaska for San Francisco she traveled as a stewardess to countries all over the world, including India, Guam, Fiji, the Philippines, and flew the Stratocruiser to Hawaii. She will be remembered for many colorful stories of her flying days as a pioneer of sorts to many cities in Alaska and beyond.

In 1947 she left the airlines to marry her husband of 40 years, Dick E. Blanchard who passed away in 1987. They moved from Los Angeles to Mercer Island in 1960 where they raised three children. She remained there until 2011.

Lois enjoyed and was accomplished at many hobbies including gardening, sewing, cooking, flower arranging, cake decorating, and on....everything handmade and homemade with love and attention to detail. She followed the news and financial markets with great interest, and spent years volunteering for the Assistance League of Seattle.

Most of all she loved spending time with her extended family and her children. She was a dedicated daughter, sister, wife, and mother. She is survived by her daughters Lisa (Paul) Grondal, and Lori J. Blanchard, and her son Dr. M. Clark (Nicolette) Blanchard. Four grandchildren include; Logan Shepardson, Marin Shepardson, Danielle Blanchard, and Beau Blanchard. She was fortunate to share time with her adventurous companion, Hal Fresn, for the past 20 years.

Lois will find her final resting place at Lake View Cemetery with her parents, siblings, and relatives who preceded her in death. Our mother will be missed immeasurably by her children and grandchildren.

Tributes