Joyce Karen Blanchard

Joyce Karen (“Mzz Wonderful”) Blanchard, 82, passed away on Sunday, August 1, 2021, in Wichita, Kansas due to COVID-19 and related complications. She was born on November 27, 1938, in St. Louis, Missouri to Monte and Elsie Gossett who preceded in death. She is survived by her husband, Lawrence “Larry” Ray Blanchard; children, Kimberly (Dale) Johnson of Lincoln, Nebraska, Kristine (Sherman) Cummins of Wichita, Kansas, Julie (Peter) Crooks of Parker, Colorado, Mary Anne (Perry) Blase of Wichita, Kansas; 11 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; brother, Stephen “Steve” Gossett (Bernie Crouch) of O’Fallon, Missouri; beloved Beagle Bizzi. Joyce graduated from Southwest High School in St. Louis, Missouri in 1956. She married Larry Blanchard on March 7, 1980. Joyce worked for the City of Wichita for over 23 years. Joyce was a bold and unapologetic servant for Jesus Christ. She served at His Helping Hands (over 3000 hours) from April 2009 until just before her death. Joyce was involved in many pro-life activities, including volunteering at Choices Medical Clinic from 1999-2009, and an active membership in Kansans for Life. She was extremely involved with church activities, Sunday School, and Bible studies. Joyce was incredibly close to her mother, Elsie (who the grandchildren called “Gock”) and lived out her legacy of nurturing and silliness. She was a quiet and shy teenager, with a small group of friends, who found her voice, and a large “tribe” of supporters, in adulthood. After faithfully looking after her younger brother, Steve, growing up, the two became very close friends in young adulthood that continued until her passing. Joyce’s three greatest passions were: her family, getting people saved, and her fight against abortion. She was the “Hostess with the Mostess” for family and church get togethers in her home. Her hobbies included flower and vegetable gardening, and she was extremely creative and humorous. Her smile, excitement, & personality could fill a room and a she had a heart that was even bigger. No one was a stranger to her; her heart, as well as her home, were an open door. She was a spiritual warrior and a role model for all those who knew her. The most important highlight of her life was accepting Jesus Christ as her Savior in 1973. A recent highlight in her life was a trip to Israel and riding a boat on the Sea of Galilee. While on the boat, the guide had the passengers perform the Horah dance in which Joyce was the star. She and Larry enjoyed many travels to Cadillac Grand National car meets. Memorial service will be held on at 2:00 pm, Saturday, September 11, 2021 at Summit Church, 10225 E. Kellogg Ave, Wichita, KS 67207. Private family inurnment will be at Sunrise Cemetery, Manhattan, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Kansans for Life, Inc., 3301 W. 13th St. N., Wichita, Kansas, 67203 (kfl.org), Choices Medical Clinic, 538 S. Bleckley Dr, Wichita, Kansas, 67218 (choicesmedicalclinic.org), His Helping Hands, Inc., 1441 E. 37th St. N., Wichita, Kansas, 67219 (ccc.org/hishelpinghands), or American Bible Society, PO Box 96812, Washington, DC, 20090-6812 (americanbible.org). One of her testimonies, “God’s Healing, A Larger Impact: A Discussion With Joyce” can be viewed at https://www.livingscroll-ks.com/testimonials/godshealing More Than Conquerors Romans 8: 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.