Margaret Jeanne Buckler Blanford, age 71, passed away peacefully March 3, 2024, after a long battle with breast cancer.  She was a devoted Catholic and a parishioner of St. Augustine Church.  Margaret was born October 12, 1952, in Lebanon, KY to the late Junior and Jeanne Buckler.

Survivors include her loving and devoted husband of 32 years, Paul Blanford.  She had four daughters, Jennifer Stone (Eric) of Bardstown, Kim Detherage of Louisville, Paula Weaver (Bo) of Georgia, Johanna Mudd (Junior) of Lebanon and one son, Brian Blanford (Ashley) of Lebanon. Margaret had nine grandchildren, Dawson Weaver, Clayton Weaver, Raelee Weaver, Marissa Detherage, Joshua Detherage, Scarlett Blanford, Emery Mudd, Drew Mudd, and Knox Mudd. She is survived by five siblings, Richard Buckler and John Buckler of Lebanon, Marian Caldwell (Billy) and Mary Ellen Wright (Ricky) of Calvary, and Tony Buckler (Janie) of Louisville.

Margaret was a single mother who put herself through college and earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.  She taught several years at St. Augustine Elementary School where she established the kindergarten program.  While teaching she worked on and earned two more degrees, a Master's degree, and a Rank I from Western Kentucky University.  Her Rank I was in counseling, so Margaret traded in her teaching shoes to counsel K-5 students at two different schools.  She retired from that position in 2013. After retiring, Margaret treasured spending time with her growing family and making memories.  She cherished time with her precious grandkids. She has pictures of her loved ones covering almost every wall. Margaret fancied planning and taking vacations with her husband/grandkids, flowers, hummingbirds, refurbishing furniture, and Amazon shopping.  She would check out desserts when entering a restaurant and order them first.  She will be deeply missed, especially by her wonderful husband, children, and grandchildren.  Expressions of sympathy may be made to KLOVE or St. Augustine Grade School.

The visitation will be at Mattingly Funeral Home, 195 Holy Cross Road, Loretto, Thursday, March 7 from 3-8 pm with a prayer service at 7 pm officiated by Deacon Joe Dant. There will be a funeral mass 11 am Friday, March 8 at St. Augustine Church, 235 S. Spalding Avenue, Lebanon, with a burial in St. Augustine Cemetery.

The grandchildren are pallbearers; Dawson Weaver, Clayton Weaver, Raelee Weaver, Marissa Detherage, Josh Detherage, Scarlett Blanford, Emery Mudd, Drew Mudd, and Knox Mudd.