Columbus
Eva Lorene Brand, 87, of Columbus, passed away peacefully at 10 a.m. Friday, February 24, 2017, after a three year battle with cancer. She was the first child of the late Farley and Iva Mobley Thompson. She was also preceded in death by her son, Stephen R. Brand; and her sister Betty Pruitt. Eva married Bernard F. Brand on February 28, 1948, in Bartholomew County. Together, they had three children.
Eva is survived by her husband of 69 years, Bernard; children, Michael (Claudia) Brand of Laurel, Maryland and Susan J. Brand of Columbus, Indiana; granddaughter, Cassie (Mike) Pratt of Crothersville, Indiana; great-grandchildren, Steven, Dakota, Simon and Eva Pratt of Crothersville, Indiana; brothers, Vernal H. Pruitt of Freetown and Robert Thompson of Charlotte, Michigan; sisters, Esther Hodge of Seymour and Vonda J. Stanton of Charlotte, Michigan.
During the1950s, Eva was actively involved in the home building business in Columbus, Indiana. Then, in 1960, after they had started raising a family, she and Bernard purchased a grain and livestock farm near Story, Indiana. They moved to the farm and Eva’s interests shifted to raising her children, managing their cattle herd and shopping for repair parts and supplies in order to enable the planting and harvesting equipment to keep working in the fields. What a versatile woman!
Eva liked to cook and bake. She liked gardening and canning and freezing the vegetables she grew and the fruits she would gather from the wild. You would see her and the children, each with a bucket, head out to gather nuts, berries, persimmons, mushrooms and whatever might be in season. They would do a little fishing in the nearby pond and creek and would usually have good luck.
As the children grew older, their activities changed but Eva always had time to take, observe and encourage and see them safely back home. When the children had their own transportation and could drive themselves to practice sessions and games, you can bet that Eva was there to observe and encourage. Up to the day that she passed away, she was an inspiration to our entire family and will remain so until we join her in Heaven.
Eva enjoyed interacting with other people and, I think, everyone she met came to like her and admire her very much, but how could you keep from doing so? She was an amazing woman and we would love to have her back.
Calling will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, 2017, at Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home on Jonathan Moore Pike immediately followed by a graveside service at Garland Brook Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the Brand family and a tribute video my be viewed at barkesweaverglick.com.
