Dolores Blanche Branson

Dolores Branson passed away August 12, 2013 with her family by her side. Dolores was born June 2, 1931 in Beaverton, Oregon. On February 18, 1950 she married Guy L. Branson at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newport, Oregon. In the late 1950’s they packed up and drove the Alaska-Canadian highway to Anchorage where they owned and operated a logging camp. The now famous Bird House Bar was one of their early homes. After surviving the Good Friday earthquake, they packed up their floating homes and floated their young family to Port Fredrick near Hoonah. Dolores made friends with the Tlingit community and learned the art of beading.

Dolores was a great cook who could bake pies, bread and fry chicken for an entire logging crew with only an old wood cook stove. Every winter morning she would find the tea kettle frozen sold and would get the fire going and coffee boiling before the first crew could rise from bed. We always knew her trying mornings as she would appear with breakfast with scorched eyebrows and hair. She always had room for adventure by getting her children up in the middle of the night to play on the beach when the phosphorous would be spraying and glowing in the water and she had no problem leaving a messy house for an impromptu picnic. On several occasions, she had to save her children from wild animal attacks and was always proud to retell her story when the men returned.

She kept the Catholic faith alive for her family and the few days a year when the priest would arrive by float plane for Mass were special feast days for the family and crew. She never complained about the hard work with no running water or electricity.In the late 1970s they made the decision to move their family to “town” and settled in Juneau, Alaska. She retired from the State of Alaska in 1989. She moved to Gold Bar, Washington in 1999 to be near family. There she was a member of St. Mary of the Valley church in Monroe, Washington and was active with the St. Vincent DePaul society. In illness, she moved to Walla Walla, Washington in 2010 to be near family.

Dolores is survived by her five daughters: Gloria (David) Luchinetti of Sitka, AK, Barbara (Welles) Gabier of Juneau, AK, Marie Branson of Canyon, TX, Nancy (Steve) Wenzel of Walla Walla, WA, Ann (Dennis) Smith of Walla Walla, WA; and her son Floyd Branson of Juneau, AK; 12 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; niece, Dorothy Winterfield; nephew, Walter Hughson; and numerous aunts and uncles. Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Saphronia Davis Hughson, and her brother, Harvey Hughson.

Rosary will be held at Assumption Catholic Church on Sunday, August 19, 2013 at 5:00 PM. The Funeral Mass Service will be held on Monday, August 19, 2013 at 2:00 PM at Assumption Catholic Church, 2098 E Alder St, Walla Walla, WA. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent DePaul of St. Mary of the Valley of Monroe, WA through the funeral home. Family & friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.