Lenita Blasingame

Lenita Stafford Blasingame, age 78, of El Paso, AR passed away July 4, 2023. She was born March 10, 1945, in Mountain Home, AR to Vernon Oliver Stafford and Coella Prudence Wooten Stafford. After graduation from Mountain Home High School, she was a Home Economics Major at Harding University. Her family and friends benefitted greatly from her major as she could cook or bake ANYTHING! She could always be found in her kitchen making something for her family or to share with neighbors.

Family meant everything to her. In 1964 she met Bobby Blasingame. He proposed to her 18 months later on December 25th, 1965, and they were wed on March 20th, 1966. They were an example of true love and commitment. Their life was full of travel, friends and fun. When Bob became ill, she demonstrated what “in sickness and in health” meant. Being his caregiver for many years was challenging, yet she did it with her signature compassion and grace. They celebrated 56 anniversaries before he was called home.

Their only child, Audra was born in 1968. Audra enjoyed the honor of being number one in their world until their grandson Brody arrived. Brody was instantly elevated to the number one spot and enjoyed a childhood full of fun and travel with them all over the country. 

In 1965, she accepted a job working for the Arkansas Insurance Department. For 50 years she forged a path in the insurance industry. She gained a reputation for hard work, great knowledge, compassion, and dedication not only in the state of Arkansas but across the United States. Walking into an insurance industry event with her was like walking in with a rock star. People were drawn to her and enjoyed visiting with her. She called each of them by name, inquired about their families and loved to hear about their lives and careers. In 2015, she was the first person inducted into the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame. This also made her the first woman inducted. She loved her insurance career and made so many lifelong friends along the way.

She loved living in El Paso surrounded by family, her flowers and all of the wildlife that traveled thru her back yard and patio.

She was preceded in death by her parents Vernon and Coella Stafford and husband Bobby Blasingame.

She is survived by her daughter Audra Welcher, her son-in-law Lance Welcher, grandson Brody Welcher and his wife Natalie Welcher all of El Paso, AR, sister Wanda Loyd of Heber Springs, AR, an awesome group of nieces and nephews, and a HUGE host of friends, colleagues and adopted family.

The family would like to thank Cindy Clark for being a loyal caregiver, the nurses and care teams at Baptist NLR, and all of the unbelievably kind folks at Hospice Home Care.

Visitation will be at Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home Saturday July 8^th, 2023, at 9am. Services will follow at 10am. Interment will be at Blasingame Cemetery in El Paso, Ar.

Arrangements by Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home, 404 W. Dewitt Henry Dr., Beebe, AR  72012. www.smithfamilycares.com/westbrook.