Our beloved mother went home in the early morning hours of February 7, 2022, at the Vaca Valley Hospital in Vacaville. She had been diagnosed with heart issues in September and had been living with her youngest daughter, DeeAnne, and son-in-law, Doug, in Vacaville since the middle of September.

Mom was born on January 8, 1926, in her grandparents’ log house in the small town of Cokeville, Wyoming, the third of seven children born to Cleo Hoopes and William Branson. The family moved to California in 1945 and made their home on First Street in the little town of Rohnerville. Never wanting to be the center of attention, she married Gerald Abrahamson on June 11, 1948, in a private service in Reno. Mom and Dad eventually bought her parents’ home on First Street and moved there in March of 1955, where they raised their family of three girls.

Mom was a member of the Campton Heights Baptist Church, beginning her lifelong attendance when services were held in the Rohnerville Grange. She was a devote Christian and always said God saw her through the good and tough times of her life.

She went to work in the kitchen at Redwood Memorial Hospital in 1971 and worked there until she retired in 1989. Any time she had an occasion to be in the hospital, she was always warmly greeted by the employees who remembered her from her years working there.

Mom lost Dad after nearly 48 years of marriage in 1996 and lived independently in their home until September 2021. She was also preceded in death by her parents, five of her siblings and their spouses, Francis and Jeanne Branson, Rose and Lamar Thornock, Norma and Zip Gomes, Arlon Branson, Elva Ann and Glenn Gracey, and her sister-in-law, Louise Branson; her daughter, Janet; and sons-in-law, Jim Ross, Chet Craddock and Greg Griswold. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Griswold and DeeAnne (Doug) Green; her granddaughters, Andrea (Ray) Haselip and Rebecca Griswold, her great-grandchildren, Madison, Jacob, Charlotte, Theo and Henry; and a great-great-grandson, River, who arrived just 12 days after her passing; her youngest brother, Darrell (Sandi); sister-in-law, Patti Branson, and many nieces and nephews.

In keeping with Mom’s wishes, we will have an informal Celebration of Life at her graveside at the Sunrise Cemetery in Fortuna on Saturday, March 5th, at 1 p.m. All who knew and loved her are welcome to attend and share their memories. Her favorite color was blue, so please feel free to wear something blue – we will be! Due to the age and health conditions of some family members who will be in attendance, masks will be required and, if not feeling well, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers but please do not attend.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Campton Heights Baptist Church, 1655 Cecil Avenue, Fortuna 95540, or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Goble’s Fortuna Mortuary.

###