Juanita "Babe" Bryson, 86, passed away on February 8, 2010, at a care facility in Jasper, Texas after a brief illness. Babe had recently moved to Jasper from Sedro-Wolley, WA to live with her daughter and son-in-law due to declining health.
Babe was born to Oliver and Edith (Stockwell) Shaw on November 15, 1923, in Burlington, WA. She was the youngest of four girls, the baby of the family, no doubt where she got her nickname. She was raised in Burlington and Mt. Vernon, where she graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 1941. She enjoyed singing while in school, was involved in musical plays, and glee club.
Babe married Harold "Bud" Nelson in 1941, in Mt. Vernon, WA. They had four children and resided in the Mt. Vernon area until 1955, when the family moved to southern California. There, Babe worked for Pressteel Corp. and Los Angeles County as a switchboard operator for a number of years and raised her children. In 1975, Babe and Bud moved back to Washington, settling in Sedro-Woolley, where they lived until Bud's death in 1980. In 1983 she married Spencer Bryson and they resided in Hamilton until his death in November 2009. Babe worked for the Postal Service as a rural carrier for a number of years before her retirement.
Babe always loved music and dancing, especially music with a lively beat, and had a good singing voice, too. She occasionally would play the harmonica. She enjoyed working in the yard and visiting with friends and family.
She is survived by two sons, Donald Nelson of Hesperia, CA, Gerald Nelson and his wife Cindy of Flagstaff, AZ, and one daughter Pat Harrison and her husband Ed of Jasper, Texas. Grandchildren Jeff and Stephanie Nelson of Monrovia, CA, Jerry and Laura Nelson, Mark and Susan Nelson, and Sherry and Adrian Abbate all of Phoenix, AZ, Ken Brott of Flatstaff, AZ, Criquett Alvarado of Hernando, FL, Melinda and Preston Brown, Rhonda and Joel Behnken, and Jerry and Erin Harrison all of the Houston, Texas area. Sixteen great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her parents, two husbands Harold Nelson and Spencer Bryson, one son William Henry Nelson at age 10 months, her sisters Dorothy Cook, Lenore Wolfe, and Pauline McIntyre, nieces and nephews, sisters and brothers-in-law.
She will be greatly missed by all who knew her for her loving ways, cheerful good humor and her big heart.
Funeral Services were held at Forest Oaks Funeral Home on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. Family will greet family and friends at Lemley Funeral Chapel on Friday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at Lemley Funeral Chapel in Sedro-Woolley, Wa. Interment will follow at Hamilton Cemetery. Condolences can be posted at www.forestoaksofjasper.com
