Elizabeth Mae "Betty" BRANDON

1931 - 2017

BRANDON, Elizabeth Mae "Betty"

Elizabeth Mae Brandon was born September 28th, 1931 to Carrie and Charles Judy of Fruitland, Idaho. She was the youngest of six children in a large family that includ- ed four brothers and one sister and was the apple of her orchardist father's eye. She and her siblings were known for teasing each other which led to many shenanigans on the farm during Sunday afternoon potlucks with their large extended family.

While growing up in Fruitland, she was a social butterfly. She was an active member of 4H, which eventually led her to winning first place for a handmade suit at the Idaho State Fair in high school. After graduating high school, Betty left her hometown for the big city of Boise to attend college at Boise State. Her older brother Jerry, the star of the College of Idaho football team, convinced her to transfer to his school where he could keep an eye on her. Betty acquiesced to his request, but it wasn't long before the butterfly broke free and was elected to Homecoming Court. This, in turn, led to her meeting a certain cheerleader, Keith Brandon, who eventually became her future husband.

After college she settled back home in Fruitland and taught business skills at the local high school. It wasn't long; though, before her former college roommate called and convinced her to embark on an adventure to the wilds of Bakersfield, CA where she was hired as the Student Social Activities Coordinator at Bakersfield College. Betty's social skills payed off and she found quick success in her new position. Within a few months she was the advisor for all the student groups on campus, mentored the student counsel, and coordinated all campus social activities.

In the midst of this whirlwind, Betty and her old friend Keith reconnected at a C of I alumni mixer. Their daughters aren't sure if it was Keith's good looks or his bright red MG convertible that sealed the deal with Betty, though they believe it to be latter. This is attributed to the story Keith told, (somewhat ruefully), about Betty's disappearing with his car to tour her friends around Bakersfield and leaving him stranded for several hours.

Keith and Betty married and moved to Los Angeles, CA and eventually to Pullman, WA to raise their children. While in Pullman, Betty became active in the Pullman Presbyterian Church and choir. She volunteered her time to the Presbyterian Church and was involved in several programs including CYC where she was, (and possibly still is), the reigning nose-spoon-hanging champion.

When her children were well along in grade school, Betty returned to the workforce at Washington State University in the Intensive Language Center. Recognizing quickly the needs of international students who were far from home and coping with a strange, new culture, she opened her home and "adopted" them in to the family for holiday dinners.

She did have one small talent that was not well known. This small and dainty lady possessed a gift for mimicry, most particularly for the raucous bark of a sea lion. So gifted was she that exhibitions of her talent often produced intricate musical harmonies with nearby pods of equally skilled seals. Her much-loved nieces, in attendance at her last impromptu concert during a trip to the Oregon coast, are still recovering from the surprise.

Keith and Betty were married for fifty-one years of their sixty-one-year relationship. The kids would like to point out that though they did take their sweet time tying the knot, it did (finally) lead to the birth of their daughters Cynthia (spouse Jeff), and Barbara.

We bid this beloved, kind and talented woman adieu by celebrating her life at 1:00pm on November 17th, 2017, at Rockwood Retirement Community South Hill in Spokane, WA.