VIRGINIA BRANSOM
TAMPA, Fla. - Virginia Lee Bransom, 67, of Tampa, formerly of Ridgeley, W.Va., died Sunday, Dec. 21, 1997, at the Hawthorne Care Center in Brandon, Fla.
Born in Frostburg, she was the daughter of the late James and Elizabeth (Bean) Shannon.
She was preceded in death by her second husband, Ret. Staff Sgt. James Bransom.
Surviving are one son, James Roy Blauch, Boston, Mass.; two grandchildren, Luke, 5, and Nicholas, 3, both of Boston; a brother, James Shannon, Appola Beach, Fla.; and two sisters, Nellie Henry, Ridgeley, and Ruth Blauch, Tampa.
She was a retired employee of Hillsboro County, Fla.
The body will be cremated.
ROBERT A. BRANT
RAWLINGS - Robert Anthony "Bo" Brant, 53, of Bloomingfield Trailer Court, Rawlings, died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1997, at Memorial Hospital, Cumberland.
Born July 16, 1944, in Frostburg, he was the son of the late Robert V. Brant and Evelyn (Downton) Brant.
Mr. Brant was a member of the Lighthouse Church of God of Prophecy and the Cresaptown Eagles Aerie No. 2883.
Surviving are his wife, Darlene (Scott) Brant; two sons, Robert James Brant Sr. and wife Crissy, Cumberland, and Scott Anthony Brant and wife Tonya, Cresaptown; one sister, Sandra K. Hall, Rawlings; two granddaughters, Rachel Brant, Upper Marlboro, and Kaylynn Brant, Cumberland; and one grandson, Robert James Brant Jr., Cumberland.
Friends will be received at the Leasure-Stein Funeral Home, 230 Baltimore Ave., Cumberland, on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the funeral home on Friday at 10 a.m. with Pastor Harry R. Copen and the Rev. Melissa Jessen officiating.
Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Park.
THOMAS W. BRASHEARS, JR.
ADELPHI - Thomas W. Brashears Jr., 89, of 10124 Riggs Road, Adelphi, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 1997, at the Heartland of Keyser Nursing Home.
Born Jan. 5, 1908, in Laurel, he was the son of the late Thomas Brashears, Sr., and the late Millie (Burdette) Brashears.
He also was preceded in death by his wife, Helen (Hoffa) Brashears.
Mr. Brashears retired from the United States government. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of the Laurel Post 60, American Legion, and a 50-year member of Laurel Wreath Lodge 149, AF & AM.
He was Methodist by faith.
Surviving are two sisters-in-law, Violet Malcolm, Barton, and Elaine Cooper, Burlington, W.Va.
Friends will be received at the Boal Memorial Chapel, Barton, on Monday from 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the Boal Chapel on Tuesday at 1 p.m. with the Rev. John Park officiating.
Interment will be in the Philos Cemetery, Westernport.
Barton American Legion 189 will hold a memorial service at the funeral home on Monday at 7 p.m.
Allegany Lodge 157 AF & AM, Barton, will hold a memorial service at the funeral home on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
BEATRICE L. BRATT
CUMBERLAND - Beatrice LaVerne Bratt, 83, of 220 Sommerville Ave., Cumberland, died Saturday, March 22, 1997, at the Memorial Hospital Hospice Unit.
Born April 15, 1913, in Cumberland, she was the daughter of the late Herbert Sweitzer and the late Sarah (Appel) Sweitzer.
She also was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur William Bratt Jr., in 1976.
Surviving are one son, Arthur W. ``Bill'' Bratt III, Carpendale, W.Va.; one daughter, Barbara Ann Merritt and husband Roy, Cumberland; four grandchildren, Clay E. Merritt, Florida, Debra Bratt, Carpendale, Tracey Bratt Andrews, Carpendale, Kelly Bratt Nedved and husband David, Pittsburgh; four great-grandchildren, William Andrews, Gordon Andrews, Bradley Nedved and Marissa Nedved; one sister-in-law, Easter Sweitzer, Midland; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received at the Merritt-Adams Funeral Home, 404 Decatur St., Cumbreland, on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the funeral home on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. with the Rev. Richard Jewell officiating.
Interment will be in Hillcrest Burial Park.
THE REV. ANNA K. BRATTON
CUMBERLAND - The Rev. Anna Katherine Bratton, 73, formerly of Ore Street NW, Cumberland, died Monday, Nov. 3, 1997, at Devlin Manor Nursing Home, Cumberland, where she had been a patient since Nov. 24, 1995.
Born Sept. 21, 1924, in Trenton, Missouri, she was a daughter of the late Herman L. and Jewell (Carter) Bratton.
Rev. Bratton was a retired minister having served in Whiteford United Methodist Church Charge, Whiteford, Grace United Methodist Church Charge, Midland, Shaft United Methodist Church Charge, Woodland United Methodist Church Charge, Cambria United Methodist Church Charge, Mount Vernon United Methodist Church Charge, and St. Paul United Methodist Church Charge.
She received a master's degree from Scarritt College, Nashville, Tenn., graduating in 1950. She was a member of the Fairview Avenue United Methodist Church, Cumberland, and the United Methodist Women. She was former director of Christian education with the general board of Global Ministries.
Surviving are one brother, Harry Walter Bratton and wife Alice J., Independence, Missouri; and a dear friend of many years, Eleanor Muir.
At Rev. Bratton's request, her body was cremated.
A memorial service will be held at the Fairview Avenue United Methodist Church, Cumberland, on Thursday at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Cynthia Frye officiating. Friends and relatives will be received one hour prior to the service in the sanctuary.
Interment will be in Edenburg I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Trenton, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Fairview Avenue United Methodist Church.
The Eichhorn-McKenzie Funeral Home, Lonaconing, is in charge of the arrangements.
MARY E. BRAY
SWANTON - Mary Ellen ``Gram'' Bray, 89, of Swanton, died Tuesday, March 4, 1997, at the Cuppett Weeks Nursing Home, Oakland.
Born Sept. 20, 1907, at North Glade, she was a daughter of the late Daniel T. O'Brien and Florence (Barnard) O'Brien.
She also was preceded in death by her husband, Umber Wellington Bray, in 1976.
Mrs. Bray was a member of the Otterbein United Methodist Church, and had been a member of the Deer Park Community Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary for 45 years.
Surviving are three sons, Elwood Bray, Baltimore, Lonnie Bray, Kitzmiller, and Roger Bray, Oakland; three daughters, Leota Savage and Betty Wildesen, both of Swanton, and Helen Crummett, Fredericksburg, Va.; one half brother, Glen O'Brien, Swanton; two half sisters, Mona Dalgren, Santa Monica, Calif., and Myrtle Summerville, Dalgren, Ohio; 21 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Friends may call at the Durst Funeral Home, Oakland, on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the funeral home on Friday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Joe Hatcher and the Rev. Ellis Harvey officiating.
Interment will be in the Deer Park Cemetery.
The family suggests that memorials take the form of contributions to the Deer Park Community Volunteer Fire Department.
EDGAR BREEDLOVE
THOMAS, W.Va. - Edgar Breedlove, 96, formerly of Thomas, died Thursday, May 8, 1997, at the home of his daughter in Frederick, Md.
Born March 21, 1901, in Breedlove, Preston County, the 10th of 13 children, he was the son of the late Robert E. Lee Breedlove and Alma Jane Sell.
Mr. Breedlove was twice married, first to Edith Kelley Garner for 39 years, and then to Ruth Unger for 28 years. Six brothers and five sisters also preceded him in death.
Mr. Breedlove was an express agent for the Western Maryland Railroad, then worked as a truck driver and retired from the B&L Furniture Store in Thomas. He was a member and 30-year treasurer of the Thomas United Methodist Church; and a member of the Thomas Volunteer Fire Department and the IOOF Davis Lodge 103.
Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Harry David (Guinevere B.) Winpigler, Frederick; one brother, Parker Warden Breedlove, Cresaptown, Md.; and one grandchild, Zane Kelley Winpigler and wife Wendy M. Winpigler, Frederick; and a lot of nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received at the Hinkle Funeral Home, Davis, on Monday, May 12, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be held in the funeral home chapel on Tuesday, May 13, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. J.J. Johnson officiating.
Interment will be in the Texas Cemetery, Eglon.
LURA E. BREESE
MORRISON, Colo. - Lura E. Breese, 97, of Morrison, formerly of Cumberland, died Monday, Sept. 15, 1997, at Bearcreek Nursing Center, Morrison.
Born May 13, 1900, in Ellerslie, she was the daughter of the late Harry I. and Lucinda (Lowery) Lowery. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Frank W. Burkett; her second husband, E. Floyd Breese; one sister, Sara V. Lowery; and one step-daughter, Wilovene Griffith.
Mrs. Breese was a homemaker. She was a member of Redeemer United Church of Christ, Ellerslie; McKinley Chapter #12 Order of the Eastern Star; Ladies Auxiliary of Brotherhood of Trainmen; Ladies Auxiliary of Brotherhood of Engineers.
Surviving are one daughter, Jean Patton, Littleton, Colo.; one son, Robert F. Burkett, Altoona, Pa.; one stepson, Gerald Breese, Boynton Beach, Fla.; four stepdaughters, Ruth Wentling, Bedford, Pa., Cartha Lowery, Bedford, Pa.; Audrey Blubaugh and Marketta Ryan, both of Cumberland; one brother, John C. Lowery, Englewood, Fla.; 16 grandchildren; and numerous great and great-great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received at the Scarpelli Funeral Home, 108 Virginia Ave., on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the funeral home on Friday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Ruth S. Kershner officiating.
Interment will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park.
