Mildred Covie Love Branch, ninety-one, went to meet her Lord and Savior and to be reunited with her beloved husband Cheston Edward Branch on Wednesday, April 2, 2003, at the Meridian Nursing Home with her loved ones by her side.
Mildred was born December 17, 1911, in Wise County, Texas, to Alton Ralph Pa and Ida Belle Ma Love. She married Cheston Edward Branch on October 26, 1928, in Comanche's Church of Christ. They were happily married for sixty-eight years. In 1941, they built their home on Refinery Road and raised their family. They had four children, Barbara Helen, Alton Owen, Mildred Bonnie Yvonne, and Jackie Dewayne. They attended Prairie Hill Church of Christ.
A devout Christian, Mildred lived her life as a homemaker, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and friend. She was a very kind, gentle, and loving person who had a kind smile for everyone she met. Her life was an example of what a Christian should be.
Mildred enjoyed many things during her lifetime, mainly her children and grandchildren. She loved camping at Lake Texoma with her family. She loved fishing and sitting around the campfire while reminiscing of her childhood and telling funny stories on her children. At home she loved to sit outside on her swing and visit with anyone who happened to stop by. If she wasn't visiting with family and friends, she could be found working her favorite crossword puzzle, watching her favorite show - Wheel of Fortune, or cheering on her favorite basketball team - the Bulls (just read her numerous collections of basketball scores in her spiral notebooks).
Survivors include: two daughters and sons-in-law, Oral and Barbara Branch Ellis, and Tommy and Bonnie Branch Taylor, all of Comanche, OK; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Alton Branch of Comanche, OK, and Jackie and Karen Branch of Altus, OK; twenty-nine grandchildren - Billy and Mary Branch, Alton Lynn an Evelyn Branch, Sherry Branch and Bergen, Ricky and Sherry Branch, Cretia and Phil Whitney, Ronnie Ellis, Craig and Kelly Ellis, Mark and Stacie Taylor, Matt and Sherry Taylor, Mika and Kerry Swanson, Mitzi and Andy Powers, Marla and Frank Presgrove, Johnny and Sylvia Branch, Sissie (Kari) and Charles Bolton, and Kassidy and Josh Ellison; thirty-five great-grandchildren - Chris Branch, Chad Branch, Courtney Branch, Bridget Branch, Chaz Branch, Austin Branch, Josh Branch, Meridith Branch, Wendi and Danny Farmer, Benji Whitney, Ty Ellis, Heath and Mandi Ellis, Ryan Ellis, Shane and Tammy Taylor, Misty and Sean Chaney, Mitch Taylor, Brandon Barker, Krystal and Tony Newsom, Tiffany Taylor, Mikayla Swanson, Taylor Swanson, Clint Powers, Caylee Powers, Felicia Presgrove, Lexus Presgrove, Kaylin Pierce, Kelsey Pierce, Mark Bolton, Cody Bolton, and Kyli Ellison; five great-great-grandchildren - Celest Branch, Laken Whitney, Madison Taylor, Mason Taylor, and Daly Newsom; one sister and brother-in-law, Katherine and Mel Reed of Oklahoma City, OK; one sister-in-law, Janetta Love of Meridian, OK; several nieces, nephews; and many special friends.
Mrs. Branch was preceded in death by her husband Cheston Branch, her parents, Pa and Ma Love, sisters Thelma Kinder and Leota Patrick, one brother, Jay Love and one daughter-in-law, Betty Branch.
Funeral services were held for Mrs. Branch at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 5, at the Prairie Hill Church of Christ in Meridian, Oklahoma, with Mario Pineda and Don Hicks officiating. Burial was in the Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home of Comanche. Pall bearers were her grandsons, Ronnie Ellis, Craig Ellis, Billy Ray Branch, Alton Lynn Branch, Ricky Branch, Mark Taylor, Matt Taylor and Johnny Branch. Honorary pall bearers were her great-grandsons and great-great grandsons. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pairie Hill Church of Christ.