On the morning of Jan. 9, 1936, nestled in a rural community known as Blackjack, a precious baby sister was born. Her brothers, Gerald, 16, and Junior, 10 welcomed her. This completed the family of Lewis and Minnie (Burton) Bland.
Wilma Allene Bland fell in love with nature and animals at an early age. She continued this love all her life. She tamed many pets in her childhood including a red fox, named Larchie, who ate oatmeal at the kitchen table with the family. She also tamed Buster, a hereford bull, and Porky, a hampshire pig.
Wilma attended elementary school in Blackjack and graduated from El Dorado Public School in 1953. Following graduation, she spent her entire career at Witt Printing Company as an executive secretary.
In 1982, She married Lester Burres. Les and Wilma faithfully attended Blackjack Church of God (Holiness) where she accepted Christ as a young adult. They spent nearly forty years together until his passing of Covid in September 2020.
Wilma’s quiet and gentle spirit made her a friend to all. She was another mother to her nieces, Kathy and Karen, and was lovingly known as MeMe to her great nieces and great great nieces. MeMe was a great cook! Chicken and noodles and chocolate pies were the favorite at church dinners. Her family was a top priority and enjoyed spending time with them, making special request food items and spoiling them.
MeMe lived a full life with good health and much happiness until she suffered a stroke in early May. She spent her last seven weeks at the local hospital touching many lives. She met Jesus on July 10, 2022. Her first glimpse of Heaven radiated in her eyes and face assuring us that she had arrived.
Preceding her in death were: her parents, Lewis and Minnie; brothers, Junior and Gerald; sister in-laws, Leola and Virginia; husband, Les; two step children, Mark Burres and Sherri Burres; and her beloved cat of seventeen years, Sugar.
Survivors include: nieces, Kathy (Jim) Davis and Karen (Nolan) Davis; three great nieces, Britni (Thomas) Dunham, Tessa (Kody) Morgan, and Brooke (Thomas) Eggerman; two great great nieces, Leah Dunham and Tatum Eggerman; two stepsons, Randy (Trish) Burres and Scott Burres; several step grandchildren and great great grandchildren. Also surviving is childhood friend and cousin, Wanda Casey.
Services were Thursday, July 14, 2022, Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home Chapel.