The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Mary Ann Bland, 88, of Orange, passed from this life Friday, Nov. 7, at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas in Orange.

Born Oct. 29, 1926 in Orange, to Joseph Stanton Ellis and Addie Belle (Mosier) Ellis. She was a lifelong resident of the Orange area, a member of the East Congregation of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Orange and a Homemaker. Mrs. Bland enjoyed crafting, ceramics, working in the Christian ministry, visiting with friends and playing cards and games. Affectionately known as Blossom among her friends, she enjoyed wearing hats with flowers upon them. She will be remembered for her sense of humor and her upbeat charm.

Mrs. Bland is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jefferson Davis “ Bo “ Bland, Jr .; son, James Davis Bland; great granddaughter, Taryn Elle Jones and numerous brothers and sisters.

Those who will most cherish her memory are her daughter, Judy van der Stucken and husband, Rick of Orange; sons, Dale Wayne Bland of Orange and Von Bland of Mauriceville; sister, Violet Self of Mauriceville; grandchildren, Haley Bland, Christopher Bland, Jared Bland, Robyn Michelle, Dawn Echols, Michelle Brooks, Michael Maggio, Dominique Vincent, Jeffrey Bland, Lauren Britnell and Lindsey Bishop; great grandchildren, Hayden, Coleman, Reagan, Kye, Asher, Destiny, Cole, Tuscan and Mia. Mrs. Bland is also survived by numerous members of her extended family and friends.

Services to remember and honor Mrs. Bland’s life will be at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, Nov. 15, in the Chapel of Dorman Funeral Home in Orange. Conducting the services will be Elder Robert Hearne with the East Congregation of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Orange. Rites of committal and interment will follow services, where she will be laid to rest next to her husband at the Bland Cemetery in Orange.

A gathering of family and friends for a time of reflection will be from 5:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home.

Condolences may be expressed for the family at www.dormanfuneralhome.com.