Barbara Jean Brand

Barbara Jean Brand was the second of five children born to Willard C. and Wilma H. (Finn) Brand. She was born August 30, 1941 in Springfield, Ill. and passed away in her home on July 12, 2004 in Othello, Wash.

Barbara graduated from Burlington High School in 1967. She also completed courses in bookkeeping, doll technology, and hardware retailing.

Barbara worked as a waitress for many years in several states. She was working as a waitress in Oregon when she met her husband, Don (Buck) Draper. Barbara had three sons and a daughter and Buck had two sons and a daughter and they combined them with their marriage in 1974 to make a large family residing in Othello.

Barbara found work with Pat and Claire Weeks at the Steakhouse, where she worked for many years. Later she changed jobs and went to work as a store clerk for Coast to Coast Hardware and Ken Story. As Coast to Coast became ACE Hardware, Barbara changed positions and became store manager, continuing to work for Ken Story for over 18 years. Many people of Othello simply knew her as "Granny Barb" or "Barb over at ACE Hardware."

Barb was always ready and willing to help a customer find what they needed, and listen to problems of family, friends, and neighbors. She had an uncanny knack for listening that really made you feel heard and when you were finished talking, you always felt better.

Barbara attended the Nazarene Church of Othello. She loved the 8 a.m. service because it allowed her to attend church services and still make it to work when she worked on Sundays. Thursdays were her "Bible Study Group" days and Fridays were her "hair" days. She loved attending Bible study group with the "ladies" (you all know who you are!) and as she began to do less, she looked forward to them even more. It was a time to get out of the house, worship with friends and praise the Lord. "Hair" days were great days, too, as she and Buck would go in and see Debbie, a good friend and a great hairdresser. The teasing and camaraderie with Debbie and those who came in to the shop provided much laughter and enjoyment for her and a few stories to tell her family as well.

Family was very important to Barbara. With seven children, marriages and grandchildren and great-grandchildren soon followed, increasing her family. She loved to have them gathered around or to just have them stop in wherever she was — work, home, restaurant — and say hi to Granny Barb. Friendship was also very important to Barbara and she loved to visit.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, James Brand, one son, Michael Draper and niece, Megan Jordan.

She is survived by: husband, Donald Draper; sister, Wilma Jordan of Othello, Wash.; brother, George Brand of Wheaton, Mo.; brother, Paul Brand, United States; sons, Dale (Rena) Draper of North Bend, Wash., Bill (Cindy) Draper of Dayton, Wash., Jeff Draper of Othello, and Darrell (Eva) Draper of Moses Lake, Wash.; daughters, Darla (David) Boothman of Othello and Jean (Shawn) Wertman of Woodbridge, Va.; grandchildren, Robert, Justin, Ashley, Michael, Erica, Nicole, Tiffany, Michelle, Andrew, Chelsea, Monique, Abigale, and Zoe; and a number of great-grandchildren and multiple nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces, whom she treated as grandchildren as well.

The family would like to thank Hospice for its wonderful care and support. They provided Barbara and her family with information regarding her cancer and death with dignity, information, medication, and equipment assistance and practiced what they preached by visiting with Barbara as often as needed. They took phone calls at all hours and were by her side through the entire ordeal.

We especially would like to thank Kathy and Mikki for their love and support through this difficult time. We, the family, could not have made it without you. Ali and Linda at Area Agency on Aging — thank you for the financial and moral support as well. It is a complicated process and we thank you for your assistance.

We would also like to thank our Nazarene Church Family, the prayer team and the pastors who are always there for us. Our prayers are with you also.

Barb often told us "If you don't like it, do something about it." She didn't like having cancer and she did something about it by living life to the fullest until the end and then she went to be with Our Lord so she could continue smiling down on us from heaven.

A time for final visitation will be held at Stevens Funeral Chapel in Othello on Monday, July 19, 2004 from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. A celebration of Babara's life will be held on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 at 10 a.m. at the Othello Church of the Nazarene. Burial will follow at Bess Hampton Memorial Gardens.