Obituary of Edna Brantley

BRANTLEY, Edna 1925 - 2016 Edna departed this life peacefully on the morning of December 2nd. She was born in Helena, Arkansas, to Wallace and Gladys Pugsley. She was vivacious, social, and excelled academically, graduating from college at age 19. Edna Mae married Ruben Franks in 1945, and they were called to Santiago, Chile as Baptist missionaries. Ruben died in 1957, leaving Edna with the daunting task of rebuilding life for herself and her children. In 1960 she married Maurice Brantley, a former missionary to Africa. He was a teacher in Tucson and a church pastor, so Edna filled the multiple roles of pastor's wife and mother of five while studying for her master's degree in English literature from the University of Arizona. Throughout her life she radiated warmth and love for others. She taught English at Naylor and Sechrist middle schools in TUSD for many years. After retirement, she put her talents and people skills to work, volunteering in Tucson's first in-patient hospice; helping design and present suicide-prevention programs for Our Town agency; becoming a second mother to a UA student from Afghanistan; joining Al-Anon to better understand those she loved who were affected by the illness; rocking preemie babies in the hospital; serving as a church lay counselor; being a Victim Witness volunteer; and speaking to UA psychology classes about grief and loss. Edna was also a breast cancer survivor. She was the heart of our family and gave us unconditional love. She accepted each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as unique, delighting in our achievements but never judging or lecturing about our mistakes. She was such a good listener. Edna also loved to do needle crafts, keep a journal, decorate for Christmas, work crossword puzzles, travel to faraway places, and keep up with distant relatives and friends from every phase of her life. She was predeceased by husbands, Ruben and Maurice; sons, Mike and Jon Franks; her parents and brother, Jerry Pugsley. She is survived by daughter, Judith (Lee) Allen; sons, Jim (Terri) Franks and Maurice Brantley (Nelson Velez); brother, Wallace (Doris) Pugsley; granddaughters, Jennifer Wesley and Juliet Martinez; great-grandchildren, Sophia, Gigi, Elizabeth, Belicia, Henry and Diego; nieces, Kathy (Chuck) Henson, Margaret Chappell, Patty Patten and Laura Duncan and nephews, Wally (Cathy) and John (Pam) Pugsley. We wish to thank the wonderful staff at Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging for caring for Edna so respectfully and compassionately; since 2006 she considered Handmaker to be her home and the caregivers an extension of her family. We are also grateful to Casa de la Luz Hospice for their support and comfort in the last few months. A Memorial Service will be held for Edna on Tuesday, February 7, 2017, 2:00 p.m., at ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Dodge Chapel, 1050 N. Dodge Blvd. Donations in Edna Brantley's name can be made to Handmaker Employees' Fund or a charity of your choice