Beulah J. Brown

Beulah J. Brown, born Dec. 12, 1923, in Springfield, Mo., to Jennings Bryan and Mary Gladys Haseltine, died March 13, 2008, in Spokane.

Preceded in death by her parents, sister Louise, and brother James, she is survived by her husband of 63 years, Jim, of the home in Moses Lake, brother Oran (Doris) Haseltine of Dallas, Texas, son Gerald (Donna) of Moses Lake, son Tom (LaVonne) of Auburn, Wash., grandson Eric (Jennifer) of Rathdrum, Idaho, granddaughters Julie (George) Okinaka of Las Vegas, Nev., Angela McKenzie of Auburn, Wash., and Melissa (James) Krueger of Tacoma, seven great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

From her first trip in a Model T, to trains, boats, and planes, Beulah loved to travel. Sunday afternoon drives could turn into 100-mile jaunts if something interesting was at the end, or if the fish were biting somewhere. Family vacations included travel across the United States, visiting national parks and far-flung relatives, and camping anywhere they had a place to fish and trails to hike.

Beulah graduated from Fullerton Junior College, Fullerton, Calif. She spent several years working for the Brea, Calif., school system, assisting principal Mary Lemke riding herd on sometimes unruly school kids. She inherited a sense of compassion and love for her fellow man from her mother, Mary Gladys Haseltine, and was always ready to extend a helping hand when needed.

While all of us will miss her at family functions more than words can ever say, we are reassured knowing she is safe in the arms of our Lord and is no longer in pain. At mom's request there will be no big "to-do" for a funeral, but instead the family will gather in Moses Lake to celebrate her life. The family is grateful to the oncology staff at Deaconess Hospital for the kindness and counseling shown to us. Her final resting place will be the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent.