Jo Ellen Blanchard Fant, passed from this earth November 27, 2019 surrounded by her loved ones at 3:00 p.m. just shortly after she said The Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary and thanked her mother Sadie Irene and father Peter C. Blanchard for giving her life.

Her thankfulness included naming her four children and their spouses, grands and greatgrands. Always thankful.

Jo Ellen was born identical twin to Dorothy Marie at St. Mary Gates Hospital, Port Arthur, Texas 11/7/1925 to parents, Sadie Watson Blanchard and Peter C. Blanchard, Sr.

Her life was a treasure to all she met always sharing her love and caring for anyone in need.

Her days were spent making people smile and laugh.

She had an unbound capacity to love.

Growing up in Groves, surrounded by aunts and uncles; graduated from Port Neches High as cheerleader with academic honors in 1943.

She met the love of her life at age 12, he was 15.  James E. Fant Jr. Married Jim in 1945 and had four children, Jim, Sherry, Tim, and Mary.

Her wit, humor, compassion and love shared throughout her life and in the book “Walk Softly on the Autumn Leaves” published with her twin touched lives worldwide.

Jo was a poet, writing poetry all her life, featured on Texas Country Reporter as one of Granny Poets with her twin Dot.

She was a life member of Ladies Aux. of Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Department Club of Port Arthur, Artisans, and current life member of Poetry Society.

There was never a day that passed without her making a call, cooking a meal, sending a card, caring for loved ones or crocheting a special treasure for someone.

It was her goal to make someone smile every day, even joking and singing with her doctors and nurses till the end.

Gifted with pure love with a song in her heart.

Jo was preceded in death by her husband Jim, her brother Pete and her sister Dot, and grandson Bill and her son Jim.

Jo is survived by her daughter Sherry and husband Henry Morgan, daughter Mary Kay and husband Johnny Swafford, son Tim Fant and wife LeeAnna, daughter-in-law Rita Jane and the late James E. Fant, III; Grandchildren, Tracy Colvin, Melissa Stein, Rowdy and Cody Swafford, Dusty Daily, Joe Fant, the late Bill Morgan, James Fant, Clayton Morgan, Carrie Ellen Fontenot and twenty plus great-grands.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Rowdy, Cody, Joe, James, Clayton, Bill Morgan (by proxy) and nephew Bubba Roberts. Honorary pallbearers are all who loved her.

“Of all the possessions I have gained in my lifetime – the one I treasure most is my children, grandchildren and great-grands that are my world and my heart is filled with love and my hope and prayers are said each and every day that they will always be there for each other and love one another with respect and gratitude for the life I have given through love of your father.”

Sincerely, Mama
Jo Ellen Fant

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves.

Burial will be at Greenlawn Memorial Park.

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Friends wishing to make memorial contributions may send them to the charity of their choice.