Dorothy M. Brassey Obituary - Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel and Crematory

Our beautiful and gracious Mother, Dorothy Mae Brassey, passed away on January 27, 2014 following complications from a stroke .

Mother was born on February 13, 1921 in Boise, Idaho to Robert Duke Sr. and Gladys Isabel (Abendroth) Barbour. She lived her entire life in Boise and was proud to be a Boise native. She attended several Boise elementary schools, including Central, Hawthorne, and Whitney Schools. Her Mother was an army brat and considered it prudent to move every few years.

Mother graduated from Boise High School in 1939 where she was an Honor Girl, ROTC sponsor, and in Drama Club, Latin Club, A Cappella Choir and a freshman class officer. She joined Job’s Daughters and was Honored Queen in 1939-40. She graduated from Boise Junior College in 1941, where she was Valkyrie President, in A Cappella choir and on the tennis team.

Mother met Bart Brassey while attending BJC. They both went on to Oregon State College (now Oregon State University) where Mother majored in Home Economics, her field being dietetics. This was during the Second Word War and Bart enlisted in the Army Air Corps without finishing one year at OSC. He was sent overseas almost immediately and was assigned to the African theater—and there he stayed for almost three years.

In 1944 Mother graduated from OSC with a B.S. in Foods and Nutrition. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Phi Kappa Phi, and the Home Economics Honorary Omicron Nu. She decided against the hospital route for dieticians and went to work for the Idaho Power Company in their Home Service Department. Mother spent a year in New York City where she worked for the Corn Products Company Test Kitchen. She enjoyed the big city but was content to come back to Boise to wait for Bart.

On December 29, 1945, Mother married Barton Andrew Brassey at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Boise. Dad set about finishing his education, with one more semester at BJC and two years at the University of Idaho. Their first son, John Michael, was born during that time.

Placerville, Idaho, where Bart was raised, was part of their summer life during these two years. After graduation, this became their home, and was to be for twelve years. Their four children were raised there and except for the winter months they lived on the ranch, five miles from Placerville, halfway up a mountain side. This was land that the senior Brasseys had homesteaded. When the children were school age, Mother had to move to Boise while Bart and his brother Vernon kept the logging and sawmill business going. During those years there was a lot of moving back and forth from Boise to Placerville. Summers were always spent in Placerville.

Eventually, Bart began working in Boise and that ended the moves to Placerville.

Mother became a member of St. Michael’s Cathedral in 1941 and subsequently served as a member of the Altar Guild and on the Altar Guild Board of Directors.

Beginning with her initiation into the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority at OSC, Mother remained active in and continued to serve the sorority in a variety of ways. She was a fifty year member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae and served as President of the Boise Chapter. In the mid 1970’s, Mother became a Province Director of Alumnae for Iota Province of Kappa. Mother was a Board Member and President of the American Association of University Women, and a lifetime member and volunteer for the St. Luke’s Auxiliary. She served on the Auxiliary Board, was President of the Auxiliary, and chaired the St. Luke’s Ball. Mother was a tireless fundraiser for the hospital.

Always supportive of her children, Mother served as a Cub Scout Den Mother, PTA President, and a Y-Teen Counselor for 7 ^th grade girls at South Junior High. She served on the YWCA Board of Directors. She avidly and faithfully attended all of the athletic, musical, and academic events of her children and grandchildren. She was our biggest and most vocal fan.

In order to support and encourage the arts in Boise, Mother raised money for the Joffrey Ballet Performances and was a charter member of the Idaho Historical Society. She was a charter member of the Beaux Arts Society and served on their first Board of Directors. She was a member of the Morrison Center Auxiliary.

Volunteering and contributing to the community was an integral part of who she was. Mother was a charter member of the Assistance League of Boise, serving as President and as a Sustaining Member of that organization. She was a member of Grace Jordan’s “Talk” Group, a graduate of St. Michael’s Bible Study Fellowship and a member of the Idaho Legisladies Organization. Mother looked forward to her Monday Bible Study groups and was saddened when the infirmities of old age prevented her from attending.

Mother was selected as the Idaho Statesman Distinguished Citizen in 1972.

Our Mother led a busy, productive life while raising four children and supporting our father in his political and business endeavors. Her gracious presence will be missed by her brother, her children, and her grand and great grand- children. She felt that her greatest accomplishment was raising her children. She was very proud that all of her children and grandchildren have college degrees.

Mother is survived by her brother, Robert Duke Barbour Jr. (Rosalie) in Boise and her children John Michael (Wilma) Brassey, Boise, Kathleen (Bill) McCurdy, Boise, Jean (Nick) Latham, Hailey, ID, and Andrew (Chrystine)Brassey, Boise. She has seven grandchildren Will (Adrianne) McCurdy, Christopher (Kahla)McCurdy, Zachary (Sarah) Latham, Katherine (Bryan)Bridwell, Ryan (Olivia)Brassey, John Brassey, and Lauren Brassey. She is survived by four precious great grand- children, Dax Lyle Latham, Otto Lyle Latham, Hattie Braase McCurdy, and Eve Chinchinian Brassey. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Isabel Brassey, brother-in-law John Brassey and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bart in 2006, her niece Janet Barbour Amos, and brother-in-law Vernon Brassey.

The family would like to thank Dr. William Bollinger and his staff for the kind and thoughtful care they provided our parents over the years. Mother enjoyed her stay at Wynwood Assisted Living and we are grateful for the staff members who helped Mother over the years. Thank you also to First Choice Hospice, particularly Diana and Chaplain Bruce, for their gentle care of our Mother in her final days. Dean Richard Demarest, from St. Michaels Cathedral, was an important part of Mother’s life and we are grateful for his spiritual guidance.

A private family memorial service will be held at St. Michael’s Cathedral at a later date. Memorials may be made to St. Michael’s Cathedral or the Assistance League of Boise.

Dorothy M. Brassey

Dorothy M. Brassey

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