Omalen Kupka's Obituary
Elsie “May” Branson Hesse, daughter of William and Sarah Smith Ervin, was born May 27, 1915, in the state of Colorado. She departed this life Friday, April 14, 2006, in Cox Medical Center South in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of ninety years, ten months and seventeen days. In 1934, May was united in marriage to Walter B. Branson, and to this union a son was born. Walter preceded her in death on August 18, 1977. Seven years later she married Vernon Hesse, who also preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Lawrence and Elza Ervin; and a sister, Olive Jarrett. May is survived by her son, Harold Branson, and his wife, Jimmie, of Mountain Grove, Missouri; three grandsons and their wives, Danny Dee and Gloria Branson, of Caldwell, Idaho, Harold Mark and Sherri Branson, of Clever, Missouri, and John Wayne and Sarah Branson, of Republic, Missouri; a granddaughter, Tina May Branson, of Springfield, Missouri; eleven great-granddaughters and two great-grandsons; a sister, Ruth Pyle, of Huntsville, Alabama; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends. At the age of three, May and her family moved from Colorado to a farm in Texas County near Mountain Grove. She attended the Little Creek School and the Mountain Grove High School. In 1933, she met Walter, she was planning on becoming a school teacher, but married him in 1934. They worked together for forty-three years on the farm they loved where they raised their family. In 1984, after her marriage to Vernon Hesse, they lived a good life together, raising cattle, traveling, golfing and bowling during their retirement years. May had professed her faith in Christ and was a member of the Mountain Grove First Free Will Baptist Church. She also was a member of the Rebekah Lodge. She worked for Kraft Foods for thirty-three years as a lab technician, retiring in the late 1970’s. She was very adventurous and loved to travel. In her spare time hosting family events, growing beautiful flowers and checking on the cattle were things she enjoyed. Granny was a very dedicated Christian woman. She lived all of her life as she believed “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” She loved life and tried not to take advantage of it. Her mottos were “why worry when you can pray” and “just do the best you can.” May was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mother-in-law, sister, and aunt, and was a caring neighbor and friend. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and she will live forever in our hearts. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, 2006, in the Mansfield Cemetery. Visitation will be held Monday evening from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Mansfield, Missouri. Memorial contributions to Community Hospices may be made through the funeral home.
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