Obituary of Linda Brannan

Linda was born to John Solon Brannan and Mattie Beatrice Wood Brannan on May 31, 1949, one year and two weeks after her sister Geraldine was born. In due order, 5 more girls were born to John and Bea: Margaret, Kathleen, Pamela, Susan and Marla. 7 Girls! Mom would sometimes joke and tell us that once she raised us, she’d adopt 7 boys. That never happened, but the boys came along as grandkids, 10 boys and 5 girls. She loved beaches, lighthouses, sunsets, and her family. She had a special place in her heart for all of our children. In her eyes, they were all the smartest and cutest and she’d do anything she could for them. Linda had no children but was the “favorite aunt” to her nieces and nephews. She was sometimes known as Inka, Aunt Lawnda, Aunt Grandma, Windon, and other pet names as the nieces and nephews grew up. She loved doing special things for them, and was always thinking of fun and creative things to do for and with them. Very recently, she took 4 year old Owen into the back yard to “see if they could find the fairies”. It was reported by Owen that they did not find fairies, but they did find a toadstool, so maybe someday he’d find a fairy there. Linda’s “valuables” were never material items. Her treasures were sentimental. For example, when our dad died, she found a notebook in which he had written of some of his memories of our mom after she had died. She treasured it. She had small treasures, items nieces and nephews had given her. She had a McDonalds’s Happy Meal toy that young Jordan had given her. She treasured that Bambi as if it were a true collectible; because Jordan had asked her what toy she wanted when she took him to McDonalds. She had so many stories of special memories with our children. We’ll need to spend time sharing all of them when we get together, because to write them all here is impossible. Linda attended Cobre High School in Bayard, New Mexico, Snowflake Union High School in Snowflake, Arizona, Cochise Community College in Douglas, Arizona, Good Samaritan School of Nursing in Phoenix, Arizona, and Tacoma Community College. She worked as a nurse and a certified medical records technician. She is survived by Gerry (Terry) Waitt of Owendale, Michigan, and their daughters Cecily (Russell) Willerton and Alyssa (Mark) Reeves. Cecily and Russell are the parents of Owen Willerton. Also by Margaret (Michael) Chlarson of Show Low, Arizona and their sons John (Tamara) Chlarson and Micah (Christine) Chlarson. John and Tamara are parents to Madison, Staley, Emmi and Grayce. Micah and Christine are parents to Will and Jeremiah. She is survived by Kathleen (James) Hancock of Olympia, Washington, their sons Daniel and Michael, and Michael’s special girl, Julia. Also by Pam (Dan) Harris of Granbury, Texas, and their sons Cameron and Courtney and daughter Caitlin, and by Susan Brannan of Show Low, Arizona, and her children Andrew, Carissa and Whitley Camlleri, and by the baby of the family, Marla (Steve) Murphy of Show Low, Arizona, and their sons Forrest, Brian, and Jordan. Also special to her were friends Pat, Monique and her daughter Megan, Lori from work and Miranda, Staley’s older sister. She’s also survived by a large extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins. She had recently moved to Olympia and was making new friends in the lovely place she lived. The apartment came with a small garden plot, and she said she was no gardener, but she supposed she would need to become one. She loved the view of the Capitol dome from her front window and the sunset views from her back window and was really starting to feel at home there. She kept journals of original poetry regarding things that touched her heart and poured out her soul into some of her writings. When told they were good, she said, yes, I know. When asked why she never tried to publish them, she just smiled and shrugged. In one of them she wrote the following, which seemed fitting for a remembrance at this time. “Now I’m tired- I need to come home. I am nearly ready to begin my journey although leaving isn’t easy. Many things I love must remain behind: Friends, dreams, memories, many songs I never got to sing. But there will be other dreams and perhaps I’ll write a new song…But I must return to you, Gain your strength, feel your arms around me, make my home among you once more. So, look out your window some morning when dawn is breaking, An afternoon when autumn leaves are falling, or perhaps in the red-gold haze of a twilight sunset, You’ll see me running, arms outstretched, tears of joy in my eyes, and my heart overflowing with happiness and love. I’ll be home soon, and this time, I’ll be home to stay.” Linda passed away on May 23, 2008. Memorial services will be held at Fort Worden State Park on June 24th. For time and further information, contact Kathleen Hancock at 360-455-9020. Leave condolences by clicking on "View Guestbook" below.