Obituary of Wilma DeBlieux

It is with great sorrow, we announce the passing of Wilma Dell Sanders DeBlieux, age 85, of Bastrop, La. She passed away peacefully on January 25, 2026. Born on September 20, 1940 in Oak Grove, La. she was the daughter of the late Badie James and Solone Irene “Slonnie” Sanders. Funeral services will be at 2 PM on Friday January 30, 2026, at Golden Funeral Home. A private interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. A time of visitation with the family will precede the service beginning at 12 noon. In her lifetime, Wilma was defined by her devotion and love to her family. She was a devoted wife to Johnny, a cherished mother to her children and a doting Nana to her grandchildren. Wilma was an excellent cook, often making up her own recipes. Her dinner table was always a warm place to gather full of laughter and love. When entering her house during hunting season, you often would walk in to the smell of a big batch of fried quail cooking that Johnny and her brother, Doug, had brought home. Wilma also had a green thumb and often talked her husband into pulling over on the side of the road to dig up a plant or tree that caught her interest. She loved tracing family history and started jotting dates and family stories down from her ancestors when she was just a child. If you asked her a question about family be prepared to stay awhile because most likely it would be a couple of hours before she made it down to the actual person you ask about. You might get lost in the telling but she was always so interesting to listen to because she knew so much about the family. When Mike, Bo and I started dating she would question us about the family of our dates and before she was done she would often have us kin to our date in some long distance round-about way. We soon found out we were kin to almost everyone in Bastrop. Wilma was a dedicated protector of her family and friends. She would be the first in line to stand up for someone she loved. It did not do to rile Wilma Dell. She was like a little redheaded 5 ft tornado barreling toward you. One of my cousins once told me, “Boy you don’t jump on Aunt Wilma Dell’s beds. This was a known fact and a big NO, NO. She would tell you something once and if you didn’t heed her warning then you were likely going to get your tail tore up. The good Lord didn’t bless her with that red hair for nothing! Once she loved you that love never wavered. No matter what you were going through she was always their if you needed her. Wilma and Johnny made sure their children were raised right and had respect for everyone. The values they instilled in us will guide us always. Heaven needed a green thumb and a good cook so the Lord called Mama home to be with Him and her love ones who went ahead of her. She was loved dearly and will be missed every day. Our home will be empty without her. Wilma is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 63 years, Johnny Alvin DeBlieux. She is also preceded in death by her son, Michael Wayne “Mike” DeBlieux. She is survived by her children, Jennifer Lane DeBlieux McKenzie and husband, Lee, Christopher Lynn “Bo” DeBlieux and wife, Kathy, her grandchildren Heather Lane DeBlieux Rinehart (Husband-Michael), Jared Gray DeBlieux (Wife Regan), Anna Brooke Chain (husband Luke), Tanner Michael DeBlieux McKenzie; and her cherished great grandchildren, Michaela, Avery, Adelynn, Aubrey and Evie. Wilma was the last of eight siblings, Wilbur Sanders (Inez), Tammie Nugent (Cedell), Nute Sanders (Julia), Ocie Sanders, Doug Sanders (Aline), BJ Sanders (Maxine), and two half-brothers Oliver Sanders and Jack Sanders. She also has numerous nieces and nephews that she loves dearly. Serving the family as pallbearers will be John Cox, James Cox, Greg Cheek, Scott Hall, Toby Gregory and Shelby Gregory. Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmy Straughn, Robert “Bob” White, Keith Cox, Calvin Cox, Johnny Raspberry, Ty Gregory, Stan Smith, and David Evans. The family would like to say a special thank you to our niece Anna Brooke Chain and the rest of the staff at LeGrand Nursing Home. The love, care and compassion Anna and her staff gave to her Nana bought us precious time with our Mother.