Colleen Louise Blasingame

Colleen Louise Blasingame, 70, of Abilene, Texas, passed away peacefully on July 9, 2026, at Hendrick Hospice. Her funeral service will take place at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street, on Thursday, July 16, at 1:00 p.m. with a visitation on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Colleen was born in Wyandotte, Michigan on August 19, 1955 to Robert and Barbara Buchanan. As missionaries, Colleen lived with her family in the Philippines from the time she was 8 until she was 16. They moved to Abilene where she graduated from Abilene Christian High School in 1973. She enjoyed going to her reunions as they happened, especially their 50th.

She started at Abilene Christian University and went to school there for about a year. During that year, she moved in with Ross and Ruth Blasingame. After a fun night out with Raymond, their son, the two hit it off and set a date to marry. The two married on November 1, 1975, and just celebrated 50 years this past year.

After various jobs including James Leddy Boots, owning her own business selling Tupperware, aide at Abilene State School and a week at Timex, Colleen started working at Abilene Christian University in 1984. She retired from there in March of 2025 celebrating 41 years. She loved her time there and all the friends who became like family.

Colleen and Raymond started fostering deaf children soon after being married. There are so many fun stories during this time of service. In 1977, she became pregnant with their first child. She valued her family so much that she named her daughter, Barbara Ruth[MC1] (named after her mother and mother-in-law). Robert Dean (named after her dad and father-in-law) was born in 1980 followed by Lydia Jane (named after a great grandma) in 1985. She was such a wonderful mother that many more would come into her heart and call her Mom and love her as such.

Long ago, the Lord placed a calling on Colleen's life to serve others. She faithfully lived out that calling, using her gifts to further God's kingdom in ways both seen and unseen. She served as the unpaid youth leader at South 11th and Willis for many years. She made wedding cakes for many family and friends. Colleen was a doer. If she saw something that needed to be done, she would get right to it and you would know it was done right. One of her favorite times of life, was leading ACU Bible Bowl.

All of these activities were fun, but the greatest joy she had was becoming Nana. She was at each birth and adoption of her grandchildren: Lindsey, Reagan, Maeleigh, Adaiah, Issacc, Isaiah, Philip, Thomas, Isabelle, Ross Andrew, Faith, Sophia and Eli. You can ask any of them, and they will tell you how much their Nana loved them. Since she did not finish college but wanted to be a good example for her grandchildren, she started again at ACU 30 years later. She proudly graduated in 2011.

Colleen is preceded in death by her daddy- Bob Buchanan, mother-in-law- Ruth Blasingame, and various in-laws.

Colleen is survived by her loving husband- Raymond Blasingame, mother- Barbara Buchanan, children- Barbara Carneiro (Manny), Robert Blasingame (Lori), Lydia Sindayigaya (Arthemon) and Lauren Blasingame, grandchildren, brothers- Bobby Buchanan (Fran) and Jimmy Buchanan (Carissa), sisters- Vivian Huggins and Jeannie Rey, in-laws- Thomas Blasingame, Belinda Clare (David), Guy Blasingame, Marilyn Lewis and numerous other family and friends. Though we are heartbroken, we praise Our Lord that she is now healed and living the good life.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Sam's Place Foundation, samsplacefoundation.org or Nueces Canyon Church of Christ, Philippine Mission Fund via P.O. Box 263, Camp Wood, TX 78833.