Linda Sue Towner Brammer

Brammer, Linda Sue Towner
Linda Sue Towner Brammer, 69, of Strawberry, Ariz. died in the early morning hours of January 18 with her husband of more than 47 years gently holding her hand. Her longer than six-year battle with breast cancer ended peacefully and without pain as she slipped into the arms of her Savior. Linda was born August 14, 1941 to Eugene "Duke" Wellington Towner and Flossie Margaret Towner at Carl Clinic in Urbana, Ill. while her family lived in Rankin, Ill. where her father was a teacher and coach. The family moved to Gridley, Ill. where he continued teaching and coaching, before settling in Lexington, Ill. where Linda grew up. One of her favorite parts of childhood were the many summers she and her family spent at the Boy Scouts of America ranch at Philmont, New Mexico where her father was Director of Base Camp. After graduating from Lexington High School in 1959, she attended the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana where she was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. In 1961, she met her future husband, Bruce Brammer of Chicago, and the couple became engaged in 1962. After graduating with a BS in 1963, she and Bruce were married October 12, 1963. This past year, they celebrated their 47th anniversary with their family in Scottsdale. Blessed with two children, Jessica Elaine and Matthew Wellington, the family ultimately settled in Arizona in 1975. Linda was heavily involved in women's ministries at Camelback Bible Church. She had gifts of mercy and hospitality and a deep personal relationship with her Lord that she was eager to share. She loved roses, animals, and the great Arizona desert, and was renowned for her cooking, generosity, grace and elegance. After having raised her family in Paradise Valley, Ariz. for over 30 years, she and Bruce officially made the small mountain town of Strawberry their home. The two enjoyed their orchard of more than 40 fruit trees including many varieties of apples, plum, peach and pears along with grapes, blackberries, and a garden any transplanted mid-westerner would be proud of. She was actively involved in the Pine-Strawberry community, volunteering at the Pine-Strawberry Museum as well as being a member of the local breast cancer survivor's group. She and Bruce operated a "Bed and Blessing" vacation rental called the Plum Tree House that Linda decorated and took great pride in. Along with her husband, children and their spouses Wayne Neill of Scottsdale and Katie Brammer of Phoenix, Linda is survived by her six natural grandchildren Austin and Hunter Thompson; Bailey, Allison, Benjamin and Hayden Brammer, and two step-grandchildren Robert and Jeffrey Neill. Her older sisters Jane Hale of Oak Hill, Virginia and Carol Radtke of Scottsdale as well as their husbands Drs Ralph Hale and Dean Radtke also survive her. Linda had four nieces and four nephews whom she loved dearly - Dr. David and Danny Hale, Malia [Hale] Cheskin, Todd, Lesly and Brent Radtke, Jodi [Berman] Okun and Lori [Berman] Herrera, and 14 grand-nieces and nephews. A memorial service and celebration of Linda's life will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, January 30, 2011 at the Chapel at Scottsdale Bible Church, 7901 East Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, Arizona.