Gay Lynn Blanchard

Gay Lynn Olsen Blanchard was reunited with our Lord and Savior after becoming critically ill and succumbing to an unknown illness at the age of 54 early Wednesday morning January 11, 2023.  She was born November 30, 1968 in Anaheim, California to Nancy Olsen Featherstone and the late Keith Marion Olsen. 
 
She is survived by her spouse Dustin and her fiercely loved son Aden, mother Nancy Featherstone, Lance Olsen (Kelly) brother, Terri Davis (Scott) sister, and Christy Olsen (Mark) sister. She is a loving aunt to nieces Carly, Cassidy, Allie, Katie, Jessalyn and nephews Braden, Dallin, Teagan, Chase, Camron and Landon. We will deeply miss her ability to make you feel like you were the most important person in the room and to live in and appreciate the moment!
 
We agree with her mission statement of being a powerful, beautiful, loving and creative woman!  Gay Lynn had an adventurous spirit in all she did.  She could make the ordinary extraordinary whether she was regaling her latest toastmasters oration, singing her personal rendition of Happy Birthday, participating as a beloved patriot with the Republican Women of Eureka Montana, lovingly coaching and giving direction (and sometimes redirection!) or thoughtfully creating something beautiful.  She appreciated and advocated for all walks of life, both human and animal, was quick to love and slow to judge.  She masterfully combined her love of work and service in her chosen vocations in both Utah and Montana; Allied Security, Chrysalis and Turn Community. She held in her heart her own family of three, God and Country and His beautiful world.  When she wasn’t tethered to working hard and creating her heaven on earth, she could be found “adventuring” out in the mountains and nature –with a fishing pole in hand and Aden by her side!
 
She is preceded in death and joins her beloved Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, her earthly father Keith Olsen, Jim Featherstone and Dillingham and Olsen ancestry. She was taken too soon from us and will be deeply missed by many. We know with assurance she is reunited with a loving God who welcomed His precious daughter with open arms and we will watch for her continued influence in our lives.
Gay Lynn was a joyful outdoorswoman and took pride in overcoming any obstacle that stood in the way of making the world a better place. In lieu of sending flowers we advocate for and encourage you to plant a tree or wildflowers in her memory in the beautiful surroundings wherever you live. Take the time to remember and emulate her attributes you loved and commit to finding ways to continue to grow in learning and in your own relationship with our Heavenly Father as she did.  May you be blessed as she was.
We harbor much hope for Dustin and Aden for their yet-to-come adventures.  Many thanks to the medical teams of the Logan Health Whitefish Emergency Department and the Logan Health Kalispell ICU teams who worked valiantly to save her life. We are so appreciative of your kindness, caring and expertise.
Our family welcomes all correspondence and sharing of photos. Celebrations of life will be held Monday May 1, 2023 at 5:30 P.M. at the Timbers Event Center 101 Julian Drive Eureka, MT.  Kerry Finley is kindly coordinating a pot luck meal. 
We have established a GoFundMe account for Dustin and Aden https://gofund.me/5198a94c
To send online condolences, please visit www.austinfh.com.
 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gay Lynn Blanchard, please visit our floral store.