Clay Allen Blanchard

November 19, 1953 - November 11, 2012

Clay Allen Blanchard, 58, of Cadillac passed away Sunday, November 11, 2012 in Grand Rapids. He was born November 19, 1953 in Cadillac to Thelma VanderHoof Blanchard and Dale Blanchard. Clay graduated from Cadillac High School in 1971 and from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor\'s Degree in 1975. He worked for Amoco Production Company in Traverse City and Kalkaska, Great Lakes Fasteners in Cadillac, Wilson Supply Co. and National Oil Well Varco in Kalkaska. He cherished spending time with his family, especially his new grandson, Kenny and many great nieces and nephews. He loved living in Cadillac and all of the great outdoor activities that the area offered. In his retirement Clay enjoyed watching the sun rises and sun sets over Lake Mitchell. He enjoyed watching and playing basketball and especially hunting and fishing. He was loved and his presence will be greatly missed. On August 14, 1976 in Cadillac he married the former Sheryl Gregg and she survives him along with their sons, Sam (Elizabeth) Blanchard of Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan and Andy Blanchard (fiancée Katie) of Northville, Michigan; grandson, Kenneth Blanchard; sister, Penny Stange; step- brother, James (Sarah) Blanchard; aunts, June Danhoff and Elna Holmquist; nieces and nephews: Trent (Kimberly) Stange, Jason (Heidi) Stange, Andrea (Matt) Luegge, Heather (Corey) Wiggins, Ben Fellows, Carrie Keelean, Sara (Matt) Manthey, Travis (Mandy) Gregg, Gretchen Klein, Tracy Gregg, Chris Gregg, Erin Gregg, Amy (Chad) Phillips, Chad (Shay) Ellis, Christian Clark, Ashley Clark and Amanda (Evan) Godfrey; mother and father-in-law, Bernadean and Kenneth Gregg; sisters-in-law, Judy Fellows, Carolyn (Bob) Davidson and brothers-in-law, David (Linda) Gregg and Doug (Tami) Gregg. He was preceded in death by his parents, his aunts, Fern Lake and Beulah Powell and uncles Jack VanderHoof and Jerry Danhoff. Memorial services will be held 11:00 am Saturday, December 1, 2012 at the United Methodist Church in Cadillac with Reverend Tom Ball, Pastor Allen McCreedy and Parish Assistant Judy Coffey officiating. Friends may meet the family Friday November 30, 2012 from 4-7pm at the church. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Cadillac Area Community Foundation, c/o Clay Blanchard Memorial Scholarship Fund. Arrangements were made by Peterson Funeral Home of Cadillac. An online guestbook is available at www.petersonfh.com.