Violet Mae Branscum
Violet Mae Branscum, 89, of Vienna and formerly of Buncombe, died at 4:34 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, at Integrity Healthcare of Anna.
She was born on Jan. 26, 1930, in Alto Pass, the daughter of Curtis A. and Grace Williams Caraker.
She married Trulen Clifford Branscum on April 16, 1947, in Piggott, Ark. He preceded her in death on Nov. 17, 1982.
Violet and Trulen were blessed with three children, a son, Clifford Branscum, and his wife Glenna, of Simpson; grandsons Kevin and Kyle Branscum and great-grandchildren, Logan and Parker, Kylie and Makensey; a daughter, Pat Mowery, and her husband Ron, of Jonesboro; a granddaughter, Kerry Denny and her husband Jeff of Anna; great-granddaughter Kailey Denny and a great-grandson Louis Denny and his wife Katie of Anna; a grandson, Todd Mowery and his wife Julie of Jonesboro; great-granddaughters Emilie Mowery and Lexi Tripp; great-grandsons Christopher Mowery and Logan Tripp; a great-great grandson, Zeke Tripp; a daughter, Anita Kerley, and her husband Dan, of Vienna; a grandson, Dane Kerley; a grandson, Jamie Kerley, and his wife Shannon, of Vienna; and great-grandchildren Jackson and Anna Kerley.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her four siblings and their spouses: Delbert “Pete” and Bertha Caraker, who lived in Buncombe; Curtis A. and Rena Caraker Jr., who lived in Sacramento, Calif.; Maxine and Andrew Littlepage, who lived in Pekin; and Joyce and Marcus Craig, who lived in Vienna.
She also is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and her dearest lifelong friend, Helen Grant, of Buncombe.
Mrs. Branscum was a homemaker. She also cooked at the Buncombe Grade School, the Bob White Café in Boles and the Jolly Red Pig in Vienna.
Violet and Trulen were members of the Cedar Grove Church in Buncombe.
Both were also actively involved in Masonic affiliated organizations. Trulen was a member of Saline Masonic Lodge at Goreville and Violet was a 50-year member of Goreville Chapter No. 1009 of the Order of the Eastern Star.
She enjoyed quilting and embroidery, spending time with her family and friends and playing bingo. However, she always refused to accept money as a prize for winning at bingo. She much preferred a candy bar or a bag of Cheetos.
A service honoring the life of Violet Branscum will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna. Pastor Tom Gray will officiate. A eulogy will be shared by one of her grandsons, Jamie Kerley.
Burial will be in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, east of Buncombe.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna.
Memorials can be made to Mt. Zion Cemetery, c/o Owen Lee Webb, 2190 Mt. Zion Rd., Vienna, Ill. 62995.
To share a memory or to leave an online message of condolence for her family, visit www.baileyfh.com
Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna is in charge of arrangements.