Virginia Eleanor Cox Brand died November 21, 2003, after a full life of more than 90 years. She was born to Alice Belle DeMoss Cox and James Wesley Wyatt Cox in Albany, Missouri on August 22, 1913, the youngest of 4 children.
Eleanor met Roy Brand when his CCC crew came to town. He always claimed that he fell in love with Eleanor at first sight. They were married on April 23, 1936, in the Baptist parsonage. It was The Depression, but Roy always found work. Their first child, Jim, was born in 1938. A few years later, Roy built a small travel trailer to tow wife, child, and home to construction sites from North Dakota to New Mexico. Eleanor resented the “trailer trash” epithet. She and Roy felt quite well off. Eventually, they bought a new and larger travel trailer, only to have it destroyed by a tornado in Oklahoma. Eleanor and Jimmy were injured, but survived. Someone commented to Roy that he’d lost everything. Roy replied that he hadn’t lost a damn thing. In 1943, two months after their daughter, Ginny, was born, the family headed west to a job building the Hanford Atomic Works Plant. Richland, Washington, became their permanent home. A second son, Mack, was born there in 1945, and a third son, Ray, in 1952. Eleanor dedicated her many abilities to caring for her home and family. She always encouraged her children to do their best at whatever they undertook, and was unfaltering in her love and support. She was strong and brave, and fierce as a mother bear in defense of her children. She filled the home with songs and laughter, and offered warm hospitality to visitors. She could always set another place at the table. Her chocolate cake was unsurpassed. Eleanor was a founding member of West Side United Protestant Church. She was an early and active member of the Benton Franklin Chapter of WARC. She was instrumental in creating many programs for retarded citizens, including special education classes in the public schools, square dancing, a drop-in center, and Special Olympics Bowling which she ran for 30 years. While she was still in her twenties, both of Eleanor’s parents died. Her brother, Jack, and her two sisters, Grace and Bernice, all passed away many years ago. Roy died in 1994. She is survived by her four children, James, Roy Mack, and Raymond Brand and Virginia Dangerfield; her foster son Richard Smith; grandchildren Peter, Bevin, Caresse, and Briana Brand, and Emily Harveaux; and great-grandson Noah Harveaux. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 pm on December 2, 2003, at Westside Church Chapel, 615 Wright Avenue in Richland. All who wish to come are welcome. Interment will follow in Resthaven Cemetery.