Helen M. Brannan's Obituary
Helen M. Brannan, age 99, of Fayetteville passed away Monday, September 29, 2014. She was born June 19, 1915 in Detroit, Michigan to John A. and Helen S. MacDonald. She was a member of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, PEO, and a member of Fayetteville Perennial Garden Club since the late 1940’s. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles F. Brannan, her parents, and her sister Anne C. MacDonald.
She is survived by her two daughters, Barbara Brannan of Fayetteville; Gail Brannan-Mailloux and her husband Joseph Mailloux, MD of Rogersville, Missouri; son, Charles H. “Sandy” Brannan and his wife Brenda of Rogers; three grandchildren, Lt. Col. Patrick Shea Brannan, MD and his wife Holly of Niceville, Florida; Brianne Brannan of Allen, Texas; John Brannan and his wife Missy of Bentonville; and four great grandchildren.
Helen was raised in Detroit, experiencing the rise of the automobile industry, the Great Depression, WWI, and later participating herself via Red Cross service during WWII. It was then when stationed at Hardwick Air Force Base in North East England she met and married Base Adjutant Lt. Col. Charles F. Brannan. The couple moved back to Arkansas post-war, and raised their three children in Fayetteville.
Helen began her professional career in the 1930’s as a secretary for The Detroit Edison Company, later served Fayetteville Public Schools as Secretary and Librarian, then finally as Genealogy Specialist for the Fayetteville Public Library, retiring at age seventy-seven. First and foremost, Helen valued her role as a wife and mother as her greatest achievement.
Memorial service will be 11:00 am Friday October 3, 2014 at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville under the direction of Moore’s Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, 224 N. East Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701 or Fayetteville Public Library, 401 West Mountain, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701.
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