Velda Elizabeth Brotherton's Obituary
On March 9, 2023, Velda Brotherton left this earth and entered a new adventure. Even though all who love her feel her absence, she didn’t leave us forsaken. She left us a legacy to be continued in her name and to honor her memory. She was a storyteller, historian, and mentor to hundreds of writers. There is a poem that speaks of the dash between our birth date and our death date. The dash represents how we lived and loved. The reader is challenged to live a life of significance. To have a positive impact. Velda Goodgion Brotherton’s dash fulfilled this challenge.
In 1936, Velda Goodgion was born in a log cabin in the Ozark Mountains. Velda once said her father was a storyteller who started her journey into the world of story. Her passion was historical writing, both nonfiction, and fiction. However, while these stories took root in her mind and soul, it wasn’t until she turned fifty that they were given life on paper. Before then she expressed her creativity in painting and music. Along with her husband, Don Brotherton whom she married when she was seventeen, she raised two children, She gardened, canned her produce, milked cows, and made cheese and butter, like the women before her. All the while, her appreciation, curiosity, and desire for preserving history grew within her. Someone had to write them down, stories that needed to be told.
When Velda turned fifty, she began writing in earnest. Her first six books were western historicals, which she had to make into romances at the request of her publisher. Then she turned to writing regional nonfiction and worked as a feature writer for a small rural newspaper. This led her on great adventures in the Boston Mountains chasing stories, and interviewing long-time locals, no matter how rough the road or bad the weather. Velda was relentless and fearless when chasing a story, much to her husband's chagrin. Her drive came from her strong belief generational stories must be recorded and passed on before they were lost. She wanted them to be woven in time. Velda was a master weaver.
Writing was a way of life for her. She is the author of forty-three books. She won many awards. Her most proud moment was being a 2008 WILLA finalist. Even so, she was much more than an award-winning author. She was a mentor. There is a quote by Khalil Gilbran that describes Velda’s contribution to all who have had the honor of knowing her and who have sat under her teaching: Oh heart, if one should say to you that the soul perishes like the body, answer that the flower withers, but the seed remains. Velda sowed seeds of inspiration, knowledge, encouragement, validation, and acceptance. What a fantastic crop has come from her generosity.
What more can one say about Velda? Her love for laughter, her twinkling blue eyes, her wisdom, her readiness to help anyone who needed her, certainly. Her contribution to preserving the anecdotal history of the Boston mountains and the west, absolutely. But for all who were blessed enough to be called her friends, hundreds of us, Velda’s light will continue to shine. She has left a footprint on our hearts. She has made that positive impact. She has been faithful and fulfilled her dash.
Velda always said that she wanted to die at her computer and that her cold fingers would have to be pried off the keys. Thankfully, this was not the case. However, in the hospital, she asked for paper. Days before her passing, she wrote a beautiful romantic western scene. The woman couldn’t stop writing. On Thursday, March 9th, her soul grew too large for her body. Like a butterfly, she emerged into a vast new life.
Frank McCourt once said, “I am teaching. Storytelling is teaching.” In that case, Velda is a master teacher. May we all learn from Velda to value our story, to love life, and in whatever we do to have a positive impact on all who cross our paths. In other words, be like Velda.
What’s your fondest memory of Velda?
What’s a lesson you learned from Velda?
Share a story where Velda's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Velda you’ll never forget.
How did Velda make you smile?