Katie Mcpherson

Katie Brazzil McPherson went home to Our Lord Jesus Christ on November 29, 2017 in Hobbs, NM. She was a young 97 years of age, and was born on March 23, 1920 to Rigdon Brazzil and Blanche Miller Brazzil in Hallsville, TX. She married Woodville Jay McPherson also of Hallsville, in Houston, TX on August 3, 1942. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Jay and her eldest son Stanley whom she loved very much. She is survived by her sons Doug McPherson MD of Alamogordo, NM; Danny Harris and his wife Gale, of Atlanta, GA; Powell Campbell and his wife Margo of Houston, TX; Bob Parnell and his wife Bernadette of Santa Fe, NM; Jon Twibell and his wife Sondra of Santa Fe, NM; her beloved daughter-in-law Quita McPherson of Albuquerque, NM; her grandsons Benjamin McPherson and his wife Daisha of Hobbs; Julian McPherson of Stafford, VA; Justin Robison of El Paso, TX; Will Robison of Albuquerque, NM; her great-granddaughters Addyson Sinclair and Lyla McPherson of Hobbs, and many nieces and nephews in East Texas.

Katie was a member of the Greatest Generation, surviving the Great Depression, and three wars. She was orphaned in 1935 when both parents and an older sister died within days of each other in a flu epidemic and was raised by her older sisters. She worked as a beautician in Houston during WW2, when her husband, Jay was fighting in the Pacific; the Vietnam War in which she lost her eldest son, Stanley, fighting in the US Army; and Afghanistan when her eldest grandson, Benjamin was a US Marine infantryman and sniper during two tours in Afghanistan and her son Doug, as a Navy physician in Afghanistan. She never lost her sense of humor or her faith during these trying times and encouraged everyone around her to continue with their commitments. She was a great believer in the power of prayer and it can be said that her life was one of daily communion with God. Her advice was sound and well received by all who came in contact with her. She was very intelligent and could carry on a conversation about anything even into her advanced old age. She loved public speaking and was an accomplished orator. She would recite poetry and folklore of East Texas from memory at the drop of a hat. Walt Whitman was a favorite of hers. She had an extensive vocabulary and knew her English well, and had no problems correcting bad grammar. In high school, she played basketball for the Hallsville Bobcats and participated in the Texas State Debate competition in 1936.

She was a kind, easy going, compassionate person who visited the sick and dying and put their needs before hers. She welcomed the friends of her sons into her home and treated them just like they were her kids. She didn't care what color or creed and gave hugs to Terry Williams and Jeep Smith and loved them all. She was fiercely independent and was a tireless worker, and scorned any government assistance. She loved good manners and discouraged bad manners. One of her favorite books was The Bible, which she read and studied all her life. She poured herself into her beloved Order of the Eastern Star, and rose in prominence to the highest of the state office. She loved the Lord with all her heart. Most of her loved ones have gone on and preceded her in death, but she is now in the arms of her Lord Jesus Christ. She was a great member of the First United Methodist Church of Hobbs and had been a member since 1950, when her family moved to Hobbs from Texas. She taught Sunday school for years, and we learned our bible stories at her knee. Much can be said of mother, but one of her sayings was, "Well, the only thing we can do is pray about it."

The McPherson family wants to compliment her surgeon, Dr. Kim, and hospitalist, Dr. "A" and the great nursing staff at Lea Regional Medical Center for caring for our mother in her last days. They did a wonderful job. We also want to thank Dr. John Kernan for his tireless effort and our gratitude for being mother's doctor after his father Dr. Jack retired. Dr. John didn't have to take her as a patient, because his patient population was full, but he did. We are eternally grateful for his excellent care of Katie.

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