Virginia Lee Brawner, 99, passed away February 3, 2020 at her home.
Virginia was born October 13, 1920 in rural Hutchinson, KS, the daughter of George E. and Mary Anna Sears Bacon.
She attended rural Maguire Elementary School, Hutchinson High School and Grace Hospital School of Nursing. She graduated in 1941 as a Registered Nurse and worked a short time at Special Nursing before working as a First Aid nurse at Cessna Aircraft in Hutchinson. There she met Leo Brawner of Woodward, OK, and was married January 9, 1943, to this union they were blessed with four children, Bonnie, Anita, Lowell and Craig.
Virginia joined the Clay Valley Methodist Church and attended until about 1976, when she and Leo joined the Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church. She has been active in the church; teaching, signing in the choir, planning retreats and greeting and as a Recording Secretary; also a Delegate to Annual Conference for several years. 4-H was an important part of her family as they raised horned Herefords. Virginia was the Haven 4-H Community Leader for 10 years. In 1947, the family moved to Haven due to Leo’s failing health. Virginia worked in the Colonial Manor Nursing Center (also Haven Training Center) for 18 years; teaching Nurse Aid classes and became the Director of Nursing. She retired as a RN after 71 years. She was also a hospice volunteer of Reno County Hospice, secretary of Haven Tree Board and assisted Prairieland Food Program taking orders to those shut-in. More recently she has been a secretary, bookkeeper, caregiver and friend to all.
Remember her smile and love for everyone. Her motive was “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and be “more like Jesus”. Her prayers were simply “God bless everyone and keep us safe from evil and harm, heal those who are ill and comfort those who are grieving”. Today is a celebration with the Angles who saved her life in a train accident in March 2000 and have taken her to her new home in Heaven with Jesus. Don’t miss me, just remember me.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Leo; a son, Lowell, a sister, Georganna Froestschner and son in law, Larry Norton.
Virginia is survived by her children, Bonnie (Ken) Hollingsworth of Yukon, OK, Anita Norton of Haven and Craig Brawner of Hutchinson; nine grandchildren, Scott (Scotti) Hollingsworth of Fort Collins, CO, Darin (Jana) Hollingsworth of Fort Worth, TX, Kyle (Melanie) Hollingsworth of Edmond, OK, Adam (Christy) Norton of Longview, TX, Lorisa (Greg) Tidwell of Ardmore, OK, Jeff (Callie) Brawner of Burrton, Matthew (Amber) of Burrton, Kristina (Jason) Henderson of Hutchinson, KS, and Victoria McClintock of Topeka; and 21 great grandchildren. Virginia was loved and cared for by many relatives, friends and her Pleasant Grove Church family. The children, grandchildren and extended family have enabled her to live at home, attend church, and continue her business endeavors, for 3 years, after a stroke in 2016.
Visitation will be held Sunday, January 9, 2020 from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. with family present to greet friends from 5-7 p.m. at Hutchinson Funeral Chapel, 300 E. 30th Ave. Hutchinson. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 10, 2020 at Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson, KS, with Reverend Alan Gager officiating. A lunch will follow at 12:00 p.m. at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, 11303 E. Longview Rd, Burrton. A Celebration of Life will be at 1:30 p.m. following the lunch. Memorials may be given to the Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church and sent to 11303 E. Longview Rd, Burrton, KS 67020.