Obituary of Esther O'Dell Simmons Blanchard

March 31, 1924 - September 18, 2025

A Celebration of Esther O’Dell Blanchard’s Life, age 101, of Jasper, Texas, will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Stringer & Griffin Funeral Home in Jasper, Texas with burial to follow at Old Union Cemetery, Newton, Texas. Visitation will be begin at 9:00 a.m. before the service on Saturday.

Esther died on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at Harbor Hospice East Texas, Jasper, Texas. A native of Newton, Texas she was a longtime resident of Jasper since 1993. Esther was employed as a bank teller and also secretary for Newton County Judge Leroy Fillyaw for many years. She loved playing dominoes, cooking, working in her yard and visiting with family and friends. She was especially fond of her dog, Cash.

Esther is survived by her son, Mack Simmons and wife Kay of Bon Wier, Texas; six grandchildren, Shanna Gregor and husband, Blaine, Thomas Howard and wife Kristie, Shanae Simmons, Jill Simmons, Amie Foreman and husband Ryan and Lance Simmons and wife Heather; fourteen great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by parents, Abner Jefferson Alford and Jewel Wheeler Alford; husbands, William Simmons and Clyde Blanchard; two children, William Donald Simmons and Genie Howard; grandson, Jeff Howard and brothers, Pete Alford and AJ Alford.

The family would like to express its deepest gratitude to Shaun St. Andrew for the love and care over the past few years of her “Honey”.

Memorials may be made to “Arc of Greater Beaumont”, 4330 West Ridge Lane, Beaumont, TX, 77706.

Services are under the direction of Stringer & Griffin Funeral Home of Jasper.