A Mass of Christian burial will be held for Blanchard “Blanche” Irene Davis Lorsung, 102, of Coos Bay, at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Coos Bay Chapel, 685 Anderson Ave. with the Rev. Karl Schray, of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, officiating. Burial will follow in the Garden of Pioneer I at Sunset Memorial Park, 63060 Millington Frontage Road in Coos Bay.

Blanche was born March 18, 1907, in Redding, Calif., the daughter of Cecil and Birde (Hanks) Davis. She died Oct. 28, 2009, at her home in Coos Bay.

Blanche spent time in Montana before coming to Oregon. In Grants Pass, she was very active in school activities. She loved to swim in the Rogue River and played girls basketball. She graduated from Grants Pass High School in 1926, returning as one of the three remaining classmates for her 65th class reunion.

When Blanche moved to Marshfield to work in the Evans Veneer Plant, she met William Lewis Lorsung. They married July 10, 1927, at St. Monica Catholic Church in Coos Bay. They spent their honeymoon at Sunset Beach camping in a tent. Their marriage bore two children, Dorothy May and Louis Fredrick. They were married for 62 years when Bill died in 1989. Together, they survived the Great Depression during the 1930s in Grants Pass. During World War II, they lived in Coos Bay. As their children grew, Blanche always had time for their teachers and to see that she had goodies for the class on special occasions. Blanche always helped financially by working in the Wardrobe Cleaners for many years before she took over her father’s nifty grocery store located on Highway 101 South at Johnson Avenue. There was another move or two back to Grants Pass, where she found her paradise called The Ranch in Jacksonville. Active with the local women in canning fruit and making jellies, attending the country fair, Home Extension Unit, card club, entertaining her grandchildren and a vacation spot for the family and friends. Back again to Coos Bay, she became a member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Life Member of the FOE Eagles Lodge Aerie No. 538 of Coos Bay, busy over the years assisting in all activities including, the Junior Drum and Bugle Corp., drill team, and going through all the club ritual and chairs to become madam president and later great grandmother.

They purchased their home in Eastside 41 years ago and Blanche lived there until her death. When Bill retired, and they began to travel, first around the states visiting friends then to visit their daughter and son-in-law in Saudi Arabia. They had many experiences during their three month visit. While leaving, they visited Egypt, the Tombs and Nile River, and visited Italy, including a visit to the Vatican City and group visitation with the Pope. Next to South Africa and what a trip it was. The Indian Ocean, car trips through the animal safari and many family brie (lamb barbecues) afternoons. She always loved the outdoors, especially the beaches or up the rivers to fish the streams. She and Bill lived an exiting and beautiful life.

Her family will miss her and there is no one to take her place of the family matriarch.

Blanche is survived by her children, Dorothy Lorsung Nelson Rucker and husband, Ed of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.  and Louis Lorsung of Coos Bay; 10 grandchildren, Jammie, Colleen, William, Kurt and Jeffery Lorsung, Terry Kuehn Landers, Bradley, Gregory and Lindsey Nelson and Sonja Jane (Rucker) Manning; eight great-grandchildren, Cory Webber Lorsung, Amanda and Joshua Kuehn, Merrinda, Reese and Shelle Nelson, and Jason and Steven Piper (Rucker); and four great-great-grandchildren, Hailey, Trenton, Lilith, Callie Jo and new baby girl.

She was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather, Oscar Hoxie; and her only sibling, Fred Davis.

The family suggests memorial contributions to South Coast Hospice, 1620 Thompson Road, Coos Bay, OR 97420.

Arrangements are under the direction of Coos Bay Chapel, 267-3131.