Obituaries for June 9, 2010

Jack Williams

Jack D. Williams, 73, who spent his time between Arizona and Sumpter, died June 3, 2010, at Peoria, Ariz.

A family service will be scheduled later.

Raised in Ashland, Ohio, Jack later attended Ohio State University. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served from 1955 to 1961. He moved to California after military service, where he worked in electronics. He later moved to Durango, Colo.

He began gold mining with his wife, Gerri, at Jordan Valley. Recently they had lived between Sumpter and Salome, Ariz.

He was involved in establishing a rural fire protection district in the rural Sumpter area and served as fire chief, instructor, and an EMT, providing volunteer emergency services to the area.

He and his wife operated a family business called Miners Keepers. They traveled extensively in their RV and enjoyed all the people they met. 

Survivors include his wife, Gerri, of Salmome, Ariz.; and stepchildren, Dean, Susan and Gary.

Wickenburg Funeral Home Crematory at Wickenburg, Ariz., is in charge of arrangements.

Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Calvary Baptist Church, at the corner of Broadway and Third streets. Betty’s request was that everyone dress casual, and wear bright colors.

There will be a reception afterward at the church.

Disposition was by cremation. Gray’s West & Co. is in charge of arrangements.

Betty was born on Nov. 28, 1947, in Baker to Charles and Vivian Britton.

She graduated from Baker High School in 1966 and from Eastern Oregon State College (now Eastern Oregon University) in 1970.

She married Patrick Braswell on Feb. 14, 1970, in Baker.

Betty taught in Baker schools during the 1970s.

In 1981, a car accident left her paralyzed from the shoulders down, but that didn’t slow her involvement in the community.

She loved cooking, especially mustard, which she sold at the Baker City Farmers Market. Other hobbies over the years included reading, gardening, Scrabble, quilting, sewing, tutoring and raising sheep on their property in Baker Valley.

In recent years, she loved organizing group dinners at Elkhorn Village.

She was also active in P.E.O. Chapter CJ, the Baker County Committee on Disabilities and the Baker City Farmers Market board.

She was honored as Mother of the Year in 1988.

Survivors include her son, Ed Braswell, and his wife, Diane Wroe, of Haines; her daughter, Emily Bryant, and her husband, Robert, of Baker City; her brothers, Harold Britton, and his wife, Judy, of Hillsboro, and Howard Britton and his wife, Sandee, of Baker City; her sister, Evelyn Plankinton and her husband, John, of Menlo Park, Calif.; grandchildren, Justin Braswell, Kathleen Braswell, R.J. Bryant, Jordan Bryant, Koda Bryant, Weston Bryant and Mya Bryant; nieces and nephews, Chuck Britton and his wife, Abby, Dave Britton and his wife, Kristina, Lisa Jacoby and her husband, Jayson, Robin Plankinton, Bryce Britton, and Amy James and her husband, Werner; and her special friends, Connie Howerton and Alice Street.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Vivian.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital in care of Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.