Barbara Brandon

Barbara Louise Baker Brandon, age 79, died peacefully on Thursday, April 8, 2010 at Pisgah Manor Health Care Center. A native of Lafayette, NY, she was a daughter of the late Howard and Dorothy Hungerford Baker. Barbara was a long time resident of Buncombe County having moved to this area from Skaneateles, New York, in 1964. Barbara was a graduate of Lafayette High School in Lafayette, NY, at the age of 16. Because of her young age, she was unable to start nursing school until she was 18. During this time, she worked on the family farm, and as the oldest of four children played an active role in raising her younger siblings. Barbara attended Syracuse General School of Nursing in Syracuse, NY, graduating in 1952. She worked many years at Syracuse General Hospital where she furthered her nursing career as one of the first Certified Nurse Anesthetists in the country. In 1964, she and a colleague, Charles Durant, traveled to Asheville, NC, to begin a Nurse Anesthetist Program at Mission Hospital. During this time, she met the love of her life, Tom, and they married on November 7, 1969. She retired from her nursing career after more than 20 years of service at Haywood County Hospital. She is survived by her husband, of 41 years, Thomas B. Brandon; one son, Byron and his wife Leesa Sutton Brandon; and one granddaughter, Bailee, "the apple of her Gram's eye." Barbara is also survived by the children of her beloved brothers, Ronald and George and her sister, Karen, all of whom pre-deceased her and a special niece, Heather deMaintenon, of Orlando, FL. Barbara will be missed dearly by all who had the privilege of being a part of her life. We will long remember her courage, her grace, and her capacity to love. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 11, 2010 at Pole Creek Baptist Church with the Reverend Dennis Thurman officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 2:45 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Wells Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Canton is in charge of the arrangements. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the caregivers of Care Partners and to Pisgah Manor Health Care Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pole Creek Baptist Church, 96 Snow Hill Church Road, Candler, NC 28715, Shriners Children's Hospital, 950 West Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605, or to ones favorite charity.

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