Obituary in The Shreveport Times July 17, 2016:

John Earle Blanchard was born January 16, 1922, to Charles Ford and Mattie Peyton Blanchard, Epps, LA. He died July 15, 2016 at Willis Knighton Hospital. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ferguson Blanchard, an infant son, his parents and 12 brothers and sisters.

John graduated from Epps High School in 1939, attended LSU and was campus editor of university newspaper, The Reveille, member Lambda Chi Alpha; graduated with BA in Journalism, entered U.S. Navy, served until 1946. He married Mary Ferguson in 1948.

He worked for the Franklin Sun in Winnsboro, LA, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, New Orleans, became active as outdoor writer and member of Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association ( twice president) and Outdoor Writers of America, free-lance writer for regional and national outdoor magazines; editorial adviser and contributor to Forests and People magazine; active in Louisiana Forestry Association, Louisiana Outdoor Writers and Outdoor Writers of America; public relations representative with International Paper Co. and purchased The Mansfield Enterprise and The Logansport Interstate Progress on July 1, 1966. Later became co-publisher of Sabine County Reporter, Hemphill, TX. Became published author, They Called Me a Killer, Without Fear or Favor, White and Poor , He killed My Sister and Malevolence . He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Mansfield, LA.

Funeral arrangements are at First Baptist Church in Mansfield, LA Monday July 18, 4:00 pm, visitation will be from 2:00-4:00 immediately before service. Interment at the Mansfield Cemetary.

Grandsons serving as pallbearers and include Russ Penuell of Nashville, TN, John Blanchard III of Baton Rouge; Dr. Adam Blanchard of New Orleans; Jason Blanchard, Esq. of Commack, NY, and Mark Blanchard of Rockville Centre, NY, and Arthur "Trip" O'Neal of Memphis. TN. Great-Grandson Stedman Penuell resides in Joaquin, TX.

Granddaughters are Katie Penuell, Shreveport, Alex and Mary Maxine O'Neal of Memphis and Meredith Blanchard of Chattanooga, TN
Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Mansfield LA