Michael Layne Blanchard

Michael Layne Blanchard, 27, of Jonesboro, died Tuesday, December 9, 2008, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro.

Born in Little Rock, Layne lived most of his life in Jonesboro. He was a 2000 graduate of Jonesboro High School where he was a member of the Hurricane Choir and Camerata Singers. Layne attended the University of Arkansas where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and was a graduate of the Culinary Institute of Florida in West Palm Beach. He was the Executive Chef at Ridgepointe Country Club.

Layne was a member of First United Methodist Church of Jonesboro and a watchcare member of First Baptist Church of Jonesboro. He was preceded in death by his grandmother: Margaret Blanchard; by his grandfather: Bill Mabry; and by an uncle: Christopher Blanchard.

Survivors include: His Mother: Kay Mabry Blanchard of Jonesboro; His Father and step mother: Dr. Michael Blanchard and Donna Clark Pasmore of Jonesboro;

2 Sisters: Kelli Elizabeth Blanchard, and Heather Heringer, both of Jonesboro;

His grandmother: Bonnie Mabry of Jonesboro; His grandfather: Robert Blanchard of Jonesboro;

1 Uncle: Robert Blanchard, Jr. of Jonesboro; 5 Aunts and their husbands: Diane Walker and Gladys Blanchard, both of Jonesboro, Ginni and Adam Robertson of Birmingham, Alabama, Brenda Sparks of Austin, Texas, and Karri and Jacques LaRose of Collierville, Tennessee; and several cousins.

Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 11:00 at First Baptist Church in Jonesboro with Bruce Tippit and Daniel Grady officiating. Burial will follow in Oaklawn Cemetery.

Active pallbearers include: Chris Purnell, Daniel Walker, Daniel Grady, Aaron Blanchard, Blake Phillips, and Matt Gary.

Honorary pallbearers include: Jimmy Alexander, Mark and Linda Keller, Mike and Karen Gott, Jim and Freda Moore, Hannah Bruce, Jeff and Lisa Simmons, Johnny and Jonathan Vanhorn, Jay Taggart, and Woodall Sleiman and the staff at Ridgepointe Country Club.

Visitation will be held Friday evening, 6-8, at Emerson Funeral Home.

For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to CityYouth Ministries, 118 Burke Ave., Jonesboro, AR 72401, NEA Humane Society, 6011 E. Highland Dr., Jonesboro, AR 72401; or the Arkansas Razorback Foundation, 1295 S. Razorback Rd., Suite A, Fayetteville, AR 72701.

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