Agnes Smith Brannon

Agnes Smith Brannon, 93, passed away quietly in her home on Feb. 23, 2010 in Fallbrook, Calif. after a short illness. She was born June 6, 1916 at her family home on a walnut and citrus ranch in East Whittier, Calif. Her father was one of the founders of Whittier, Calif. in 1887 and she grew up in the small Quaker community of East Whittier.

Agnes is survived by three children, Richard Brannon of Little Rock, Ark.; Carol Feuerstein of Fallbrook, Calif.; and Wayne Brannon of Poway, Calif. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Arthur Herman Brannon, and her son Duane Brannon.

She is further survived by 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

Grandchildren David Brannon of Garden Grove, Calif.; Elaine Smith of Biloxi, Miss.; Amy Brannon of Little Rock, Ark.; Daniel Davis of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Matthew Brannon of Everett, Wash.; Tamara Salo of Odenton, Md.; Luke Brannon of Los Angeles, Calif.; Tobin Brannon of Temecula, Calif.; Jess Brannon of Stanwood, Wash.; Deanna McLaughlin of Poway, Calif.; Heidi Brannon of Redondo Beach, Calif.; and Kelly Brannon of Poway, Calif.

Great-grandchildren Christopher Davis of Biloxi, Miss.; Matthew Smith of Charleston, S.C.; Michele Smith of Biloxi, Miss.; Taylor Davis of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Michael Brannon of Garden Grove, Calif.; Brenna Davis of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Peter Keltner of Little Rock, Ark.; Aaron Brannon of Garden Grove, Calif.; Hannah Keltner of Little Rock, Ark.; Shannon Salo of Odenton, Md.; Justen Brannon of Everett, Wash.; Logan Brannon of Stanwood, Wash.; Jon Salo of Odenton, Md.; Jazmine Brannon of Temecula, Calif.; Meridy McLaughlin of Poway, Calif.; Beau Brannon of Stanwood, Wash.; Wendy Brannon of Los Angeles, Calif.; Makena McLaughlin of Poway, Calif.; Rowan Brannon of Temecula, Calif.; Audrey Brannon of Los Angeles, Calif.; and Matthew McLaughlin of Poway, Calif.

Mother was a full time homemaker and the center of our family since the death of our father in 1991. Family activities were her priority. Even with 36 direct descendants, she never missed a birthday remembrance, or the opportunity to add a picture or two to her family album.

She was an active member of East Whittier Friends church until moving to Fallbrook in 1954, and an active member of Fallbrook United Methodist church since. She graduated from Fullerton JC in 1935 and from UCLA with a major in English in 1937. She remained an active 50-year member of her UCLA sorority, Alpha Xi Delta. She was active in her community, and served as president of the Lowell Elementary School Board in East Whittier, as president of the Fallbrook Union High School District board in 1959/1960, and as president of the San Diego chapter of the American Association of University Women.

In Fallbrook, in 1956, she was a charter member and president of the Fallbrook branch of the Children’s Home Society, and in 1978 was a charter member of the Angel Society. She was a volunteer with Fallbrook Library, and with the Fallbrook Historical Society.

Mom remained active until the last few weeks of her life. She remained alone in her home of almost 50 years, drove, carried in her own firewood, and maintained a household which had many visitors. She was expert at cross word and jigsaw puzzles and rarely missed Jeopardy.

She is loved by her many friends and family, and will be missed.

A memorial service will be held at Fallbrook Methodist Church at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 1, 2010. Interment is in a family plot at Fallbrook Masonic Cemetery.