Martha Harris Brabson

Martha Harris Brabson passed away peacefully on December 12, 2022 in Springfield, MO.  She was born on July 31, 1919 in Cape Girardeau, MO as the eldest of three girls to John and Alma Harris.

Martha lost her father in a swimming accident when she was 11 years old.  Her mother never re-married, so Martha helped to raise her two younger sisters.  She graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in Education and worked as a teacher until her marriage to William H. Brabson, Jr. in 1943.  They were married the day William graduated from West Point at the West Point Chapel.  Their wedding photograph was featured in the New York Times Newspaper as an example of many war-time graduates married on that same day at West Point. Her husband was deployed as an Army Officer to Japan after WWII to assist in post-war occupation.  Martha was in the first group of dependents to arrive in Japan, where she lived and absorbed the culture for over two years.  Martha and Bill had two sons, William H. Brabson III, who was born in Japan; and John Harris Brabson who was born in Dayton, OH where Bill was stationed at Wright-Patterson Airforce Base.  They remained married for 56 years until her husband passed away in 2000.

Martha loved nature, especially gardens, flowers, trees and birds.  She found time to volunteer with local Garden Clubs in every place she lived.  She also loved reading, and it was rare to see her without a book.  She shared her love of reading with her family, taught reading to disadvantaged children, and volunteered as a reading buddy in her grandson's elementary school.

Martha never had a cross word to say about anyone.  She saw the good in everybody.  She remained close to her two sisters throughout her life and traveled together with them, even staying in Florida within blocks of each other every winter for years.

Martha was preceded in death by her younger sisters, Ruth (Harris) Neel and Marilyn (Harris) Patterson.  She is survived by her two sons, William H. Brabson III (wife, Linda) Dallas, TX and John Harris Brabson (wife, Dina) Springfield, MO;  two grandchildren, William Harris Brabson and Nichole Love Adkins (husband, Donald) Springfield, MO; and one great granddaughter, Bostyn Love Adkins, Springfield, MO.

Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home is handling the funeral arrangements.  She will be interred at Missouri Veteran's Cemetery alongside her husband in a private service.