Betty Helena Braswell

Betty Helena Braswell, 62, of Baker City and formerly of La Grande, died June 6 at St. Luke's Hospital in Boise. Her memorial service is at 2 p.m. Thursday at Calvary Baptist Church, at the corner of Broadway and Third streets.

Betty's request was that everyone dress casual and wear bright colors. A reception will follow at the church.

Betty was born Nov. 28, 1947, to Charles and Vivian Britton in Baker City.

She graduated from Baker High School in 1966 and from Eastern Oregon State College (now Eastern Oregon University) in 1970.

She married Patrick Braswell on Feb. 14, 1970, in Baker City.

Betty taught in Baker schools during the 1970s.

In 1981, a car accident left her paralyzed from the shoulders down, but that didn't slow her involvement in the community.

She loved cooking, especially mustard, which she sold at the Baker City Farmers Market.

Other hobbies over the years included reading, gardening, Scrabble, quilting, sewing, tutoring and raising sheep on her property in Baker Valley.

In recent years, she loved organizing group dinners at Elkhorn Village.

She was also active in P.E.O. Chapter CJ, the Baker County Committee on Disabilities and the Baker City Farmers Market board.

She was honored as Mother of the Year in 1988.

Survivors include her son, Ed Braswell and his wife, Diane Wroe, of Haines; daughter, Emily Bryant and her husband, Robert, of Baker City; her brothers, Harold Britton and his wife, Judy, of Hillsboro, and Howard Britton and his wife, Sandee, of Baker City; her sister, Evie Plankinton and her husband, John, of Menlo Park, Calif.; several grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Vivian.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital in care of Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City 97814.

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