Margaret Elizabeth Brand

Have you ever had one of Margaret Elizabeth Brand’s homemade dinner rolls? They were as wonderful as her long and prosperous life. She was born in Colfax, WA on November 19, 1918 to Jacob and Annie Houck, and died peacefully at the age of 97 on Friday, July 29, 2016. At the age of three, Margaret’s family moved to the Woodland Farm where she was raised with her three brothers (Bernard, Robert, and Raymond Houck) and a sister, (Juneau). In 1936, Margaret graduated from Granite Falls High School as valedictorian. After a time in business school she met and married Paul A. Brand, who farmed across from the Woodland Farm. Margaret and Paul settled in Snohomish, WA on a farm off the Three Lakes Road, where they lived for the rest of their lives. While Paul started his long career with the Great Northern Railroad, Margaret worked with skill and grace to make a beautiful home, delicious meals, a large vegetable garden, canning jars full of fruits and vegetables, tending the chickens, geese, pigs, and cows along with a yard full of flowers made her a very busy woman. All of this was done while raising their children, Anne (Steve) Kester, William (Anne) Brand, Paul (CoraLee) Brand, and Colleen (Earl) Wolf. Margaret was a long-time member of the Cedar Hill Community Club. Being a loving wife, mother, and grandmother was Margaret’s greatest gift to her closely knit family. Her pathway to heaven is paved with crochet Easter chickens to the delight of many children.

Margaret was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church for over 70 years where she was an active Altar Society member and parishioner. She was very proud of her Irish heritage and visiting Ireland with her brothers and sisters-in-law was a highlight of her travels. When Margaret’s

youngest child started kindergarten in 1959, Margaret started work at Berryland in Snohomish. Many high school students during her years at Berryland remember her fondly as their first job’s supervisor.

Margaret was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Rebecca, in 1977 and then Paul Brand in 2005. Margaret was the last living member of the Woodland Farm family. Margaret is survived by her children, grandchildren Todd, Joy, Trisha, Joe, Veronica, Matt, Dominik, Rachel, Evan, Alex, and Bridget, 13 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren and her sister-in-law, Edna Houck. Please join in the Funeral Rosary at 10:00 and Mass at 11:00 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church on Friday, August 5, 2016 followed by a graveside

at GAR Cemetery. Donations may be made to your favorite charity.