2019/06/obit-Berkey-Branch-197x300.jpgBerkey Branch passed away on May 31 in San Clemente, Calif. She died peacefully surrounded by family who loved her dearly.
Berkey was born on Nov. 13, 1946, in Beaumont, Texas, the daughter of Wilber and Berkie Womack. She graduated from South Park High in Beaumont in 1965 and received her BBA from Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas, in 1969. She was a member of the Chi Omega sorority while at SFA. She went to work for the CPA firm of Peat, Marwick and Mitchell in Dallas, Texas, where she met her husband of 47 years, Michael Coe Branch. In 1974, Mike and Berkey moved to east Texas, where she helped Mike in the cattle and farm equipment business. With three small boys in tow, they moved to Pagosa Springs in 1982. She was a stay-at-home mom until December of 1986. Larry Fisher had just bought the Ski and Bow Rack and asked her to help out over the holidays until he could hire a permanent staff. After working there for 20 years, she finally told him it was time for him to hire this permanent staff and she retired.
She is survived by her husband, Michael C. Branch, of Pagosa Springs; and her three sons: Bill and his wife, Julie, and children Madeline and Jackson, of San Clemente, Calif.; Coe and his wife, Jenny, and two daughters, Addison and Payton, of Littleton, Colo.; and Craig and his wife, Lisa, and two sons, Nathaniel and Atticus, of Antalya, Turkey.
Berkley’s first love was her family. Her three sons brought her much pleasure and she was delighted with her three daughters-in-law. However, it was the grandkids that were the light of her life. She spent endless hours sewing princess dresses, matching Christmas and Fourth of July outfits and her famous Grammy Jammies.
She had many friends who will remember her for the cheerful, kind, loving person she was. She was very active in the Community United Methodist Church of Pagosa Springs. She was a charter member of the church bell choir and worked at the Russ Hill Bazaar for 37 years. She loved to decorate the beautiful wreaths and she made all the bows. It is estimated she made over 20,000 bows over the years. She would spend every Sunday afternoon in the fall watching the Broncos game and making bows. The joke was that you wanted a wreath with a bow she made on Sundays the Broncos won.
Her memorial service will be Wednesday, July 3, at the Community United Methodist Church in Pagosa Springs at 11 a.m.
