Priscilla Brandon

Priscilla Dorothy Carr Brandon born June 18, 1924, in Hardwick, Vermont. Priscilla joined her Lord, and husband, Merle, on Wednesday, October 1, 2008. A true New England Yankee, she moved at age five, to Randolph, VT with her father, Merton, mother, Natalie, and sister, Norma, living in an apartment behind the movie theater owned by her parents. An advanced student, she was promoted a grade ahead of her class, graduating from Randolph High School in the Spring of 1941. Prior to enlisting in 1944 in the US Army Women's Air Corps (WAC), she, along with her mother and sister, worked in a factory making magnetos for Pratt and Whitney aircraft engines. After recruit training at Ft. Oglethorpe, GA, she was stationed in Goose Bay, Labrador. While there, she met Merle J. Brandon, of Lawton, Oklahoma, marrying this trumpet player in Worcester, MA, October 11, 1945. Not long afterward, she immigrated with her husband to the "foreign" country of Oklahoma. Despite having grown up skiing in Vermont, her new family excitedly was able to show her "real mountains", the Wichitas. She was readily adopted into the John J. Brandon Clan, which was one of the original settling families of Lawton. She grew to love Merle's parents, Mike and Ruby Brandon, his five sisters and husbands, and Oklahoma. After the War and marriage, Pris, with two small children, attended Central State College, Edmond, OK, graduating as a vocal music education teacher. She spent the next few years traveling the state as the wife of a high school band director residing in towns such as Alva, Konawa, Apache, and Oklahoma City, finally stopping in Lawton, and working with Merle at Hardy Suggs Music on `D' Avenue downtown. In 1958, Mr. Suggs purchased a music store in Duncan, asking Merle and Pris to manage it, eventually selling the business to them a year later. In addition to co-owning Brandon Music Co., Pris taught keyboard, and was the founder of the Duncan Piano Teacher's Association. She was instrumental in establishing the Duncan Civic Music Association and the Duncan Municipal Band. They introduced the Oklahoma City Symphony to Duncan, and for a number of years, Pris organized the children's concerts. Merle and Pris' business and community activities led to their being honored by the National Association of Music Merchants as National Music Merchants of the Year in 1961, that association's highest honor. Pris' civic activities included in various years the American Association of University Women, Duncan Chamber of Commerce and Board of Directors, Duncan Community Residence, Inc., American Legion, and founding member of Women's Haven. For many years, Pris gifted her talent as organist to her spiritual home, All Saints Episcopal Church, several years honored as "Saint of All Saints". In 1978, Pris was honored as the Duncan Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year. Pris especially enjoyed getting to know people as a Dale Carnegie Graduate Assistant. After their children were grown, Pris and Merle moved into a country home west of Duncan on 42nd Street. They hosted numerous social soirees, especially noted for their high school band parties. Brandon Music Co. was closed in 1994. With retirement, Pris became active in Christians Concerned. For the past several years, Priscilla lived with her daughter in Lawton, known as the "Brandon Broads". Priscilla is survived by her sister, Norma Carr Bankenstein of York, PA, son, Mark Brandon and daughter-in-law, Marcy of Garland, Texas, daughter, Patricia Brandon of Lawton, two grandsons, Kerry Brandon, Baltimore, and Brandon Spivey, Denver, three step granddaughters, two great grandsons, her beloved cousins, Nancy McRae and Margaret Carter, sisters- and brothers-in-law, Mary Richards, Harrah, Betty Kephart, Jean and GW Hastings, Lawton, Margorie and Roger Bayer, Tulsa, numerous nieces and nephews from Pennsylvania to Montana. Pris will enjoy last rites 2:00 PM, Saturday, October 4, 2008, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 9th and Cedar, Duncan, Oklahoma with interment next to Merle at Resthaven Cemetery in Duncan. In lieu of flowers, Priscilla has requested that donations be made to Christians Concerned or All Saints Episcopal Church, Duncan, or St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Lawton. With the passing of Merle and Pris, and their Greatest Generation, the lights are dimming and the music is fading. "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." A wake is to be held Friday, October 3, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM, at the Bailes-Polk Funeral Home, 910 West Oak, Duncan, Oklahoma.