Marie Branson

January 15, 1926 - February 8, 2023

Obituary

Marie Cecil (Zimmerman) Branson, born January 15, 1926 died on February 8, 2023 at the age of 97, in Seattle, WA where she lived since 2008 close to her son Rob, his wife, Judy, and her grandson, Joe.

Marie was married to William (Bill) L. Branson on June 12, 1954 until his death October, 9 2007. Their lives took them from Chicago to Cleveland to Seattle and finally to Portland, OR.

Marie grew up in St. Louis, MO. She was the daughter of Cecilia (Schnurr) Zimmerman who died January 19, 1926 four days after Marie’s birth. She was reared by grandparents William and Mary Schnurr, but she recalled the best times with her beloved father, Charles J, Zimmerman, owner of a transportation company, who died in December 9, 1966. Marie loved recalling weekends with her father, visiting her mother’s grave, and going to a river cabin in the Ozarks from where her father fished and hunted quail and pheasant.

She graduated from St. Alphonsus High School in St. Louis in 1944 and earned a bachelor’s from St. Louis University in 1949 in Medical Record Library Science. She worked at Barnes Hospital at Washington University Medical Center. As the Director of the Medical Records Department, it was her responsibility to hire interns, and she hired her future husband, Bill Branson as an intern while he was working on his masters in hospital administration at Washington University after graduating from Indiana University.

Marie and Bill were loving parents to their three sons all of whom attended St. Thomas More in Portland, OR, and Jesuit High School in Beaverton, OR. Marie was a diligent mother who steered a giant blue station wagon around the southwest hills of Portland getting three boys to various events. Marie and Bill enjoyed traveling to Europe and Asia and had a special love for the Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Marie knit sweaters that are still worn today and created many impressive needlepoint projects. She was a regular at Multnomah Athletic Club water aerobics and at Portland Golf Club. While winning in Gin Rummy, Bridge, or dominoes with family and friends, she enjoyed vermouth on the rocks or Pinot Gris. Marie was a voracious reader and became an accomplished home cook. Her homemade granola, made before it became popular, was amazing. She loved Christmas time with family and friends and loved to decorate the Christmas tree with an impressive array of unique ornaments from around the world.

Marie is survived by her son, Robert (Rob), his wife, Judy, and their son, Joe; her son, Richard (Rick), and his wife, Sarah, and their children, David, Megan, and Daniel, their spouses and five great-grandchildren. Marie’s eldest son, William (Bill) C., died on November 1, 2000. Memorial donations can be made to Jesuit High School.