FRANCES JUDEAN BLANKENSHIP PAUL, of Little Rock, passed away Sunday, December 29, 2019, following a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. Judean was born in Little Rock on March 3, 1940, to Catherine and Hubert Ray Blankenship. She got her unique name from her half-brother, Earl, who entered a contest merging celebrity names. His entry was Judy Garland and Dizzy Dean: Judean. She graduated from Mount St. Mary Academy in 1958. On February 4, 1961, she married the love of her life, Lawrence E. Paul. Together they raised two sons, Bradley Stephen and Clayton Brian, who were the light of her life. She made sure they had every opportunity to excel whether it was academics or extracurricular activities.
Judean had many talents. She was an excellent seamstress and a wonderful cook and artist. She worked as an x-ray technician before earning a certification in ultrasound. She trained at St. Vincent’s Infirmary and worked at Doctors Hospital. She later took an interior decorating course from Tom Chandler and earned her license. She loved getting to know her clients and decorating their homes. She also worked at Joyce Holt’s Window Works and Ethan Allen. Her hobbies included photography, writing, playing bridge and watching Wheel of Fortune every evening. Her all-time favorite hobby was dancing with Larry any chance they got – stealing the show on any dance floor.
When her first grandson, Austin, was born, Judean was given the title of “Grand.” It was a most-fitting name for her personality. She adored her grandchildren and made wonderful memories with them: baking cookies and braided bread wreaths at Christmas, dyeing Easter eggs and playing card games just to name a few.
Judean never met a stranger. Her positive, upbeat personality and loving spirit, even while battling Alzheimer’s, was a blessing to everyone.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Margaret Blankenship Miller; Larry’s parents, Edna and Lawrence C. Paul; and daughter-in-law, Marcy Thompson Paul. She will be greatly missed by Larry, sons, Brad and Clay; daughter-in-law, Anita; grandchildren, Austin, Brennan, Evan and Camron Paul; sister-in-law, Marilyn Paul and numerous extended family and friends.
Heartfelt thanks to Tamara Walters and Lillian Ratliff and the wonderful staff at Stonehaven Assisted Living who loved and cared for Judean, especially Reyna, Susan, Lisa, Kristen and Jamie.
A lifelong Catholic, Judean was a member of the Cathedral of St. Andrew. There will be a visitation on Thursday, January 2 at Griffin Leggett Healey and Roth Funeral Home from 6:00-7:30 p.m. with a rosary following. The funeral will be on Friday, January 3 starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Andrew with Msgr. Lawrence A. Frederick presiding. The burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Mount St. Mary Academy at 3224 Kavanaugh Blvd, Little Rock, AR 72205 and Catholic High School for Boys at 6300 Father Tribou St, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.
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