Derah Frances Brannen Stanley

Derah Frances Brannen Stanley, beloved wife and mother, went to be with her Lord and Savior November 5, 2011 at the age of 85. Known to her friends as Derah and her family as Frances, she had a sharp intellect, quick wit and knew Roberts Rules of Order as well as she knew the Bible.

Born December 6, 1925 in Aspermont, Texas to Calvin Ernest and Iva Galloway Brannen, she was the sixth of eight children. Derah graduated from Aspermont High School and earned a degree in Geology from Texas Tech University in 1948. She worked with Standard of Texas Oil Company in Abilene until marrying her boss, Miles Stanley, on December 29, 1951. At the time of her death, Derah was busy planning an elaborate celebration of the 60th anniversary of her marriage with Miles.

Derah pioneered and named her own career path: she said "Drop Out is hardly appropriate for duties which require more than 24 hours a day to perform; Domestic Engineer is ambiguous when set down on paper; Housewife is not adequately embracive; Homemaker is a dressy term but does not cover one who has failed in the cooking department; therefore I think I'll just have the generations to come wonder what I contributed other than population explosion."

She was a fierce competitor; on the golf course, at a bridge table or at a slot machine, she wanted to win - not just play the game. She fought and beat breast cancer in 1965 and then lung cancer in 1991. For many years she was active in the Baptist Church, singing in the choir and teaching Sunday School. She enjoyed the Texas Senior Golf tournaments, many Panorama Village community organizations, held several offices in the Panorama Women's Golf Association and was a Director of the Willowmeadows International Neighbors Program (WIN). She loved traveling abroad with her siblings, her crossword puzzles and a good mystery.

Derah is survived by her husband, Miles of Panorama Village, daughter Marsha Stanley Mitchell, sons B. Frank Stanley (and wife Suzanne), Ronnie Stanley (and wife Debra), daughter Fran Stanley Porter and brother Noah Brannen of Palm Desert, California.

She also cherished her grandchildren Laura Frances Mitchell Salmo (and husband Matt), Kenneth Mitchell, Ryann Stanley (and fiancée Brett Detamore), Bryce Stanley, Katie Stanley Robertson (and husband Colby), Kelly Frances Porter and Jackie Porter and one great granddaughter, Adriana Frances Salmo as well as many admiring nieces and nephews.

Derah was preceded in death by her parents, five sisters, Iva Oliver, Lila Hagins, Ernestine Jamieson, Celestia Davis and Barbara Flowers and brother Charles Brannen.

She embraced life and through her example showed family and friends how faith encourages family, builds a loving home and a strong nation. In her last days, she recorded a message for her grandchildren saying that this is the most important message that she knows - "In the future America remains a Christian nation. And that's up to you and your children; that they realize America has to begin with the teachings of Christ before we have hope, love, peace and opportunity and freedom to search for happiness. "

Friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of Derah's life on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 12:30 p.m. in the chapel at Cashner Funeral Home, 801 Teas Road in Conroe.