Eva B Ashabranner's Obituary
Eva Mae Brock Ashabranner Obituary
June 19, 1918 – November 28, 2014
Eva Mae Ashabranner died Nov. 28 at Lexington Health and Rehab Center in Kenneth City, Florida of undisclosed causes. She was 96. She had been a resident of Town Shores in Gulfport, FL for the past 16 years, having moved from Arizona to be near her daughter Carolyn Ashabranner Brock, who predeceased her in 2006. She was a fiercely independent woman, living happily on her own among her books, pictures and the mementoes of her very long life.
Born the youngest of five children in 1918 to Julius Preston and Willie Mae Brock, she was raised in St. Petersburg and Oklahoma. Eva was a child of the Great Depression. Her father was a railway man and for several years, beginning in 1930, he was the only member of the family of seven to hold a job. The Depression took its toll on her family, events which she used as background for her novel “The Hunger Streaks,” which was published in 2010 when she was 92 years old. The novel is a story of love and survival set in the desperate days of the Oklahoma Dust Bowl. Eva worked on this book for 40 years and it was a great testament to her belief in the story when it was published.
In 1937 she married Gerard D. Ashabranner who became a prominent oil and gas attorney and was a senior partner in a major law firm in Oklahoma City. As a young matron she took part in volunteer activities while raising their daughter Carolyn. She was known for her skill in dressmaking, crafting elegant tea and prom dresses for Carolyn, and many years later, dresses for her great nieces. At the age of 50, she enrolled at Central State College at Edmond, OK and graduated in 1976 with a BA in English and teaching credentials.
In 1988, she and Gerard retired to Tucson, AZ. Gerard had published several western novels and they both were enamored with the beauty of the canyons and valleys and Indian lore of Arizona. However, only a year later, Gerard was diagnosed with liver cancer and died soon after. Eva Mae held on to their dream, living on her own in their home until 12 years later when she moved to Gulfport.
Eva Mae believed in family above all else. She was always there for her daughter, parents, siblings and their spouses in their times of need. She adored her nephews and nieces and great nieces and nephews, and embraced other close friends as family. She never forgot a birthday, and was always there to give counsel and affection when needed. Even at 96 she remained interested in politics and in the welfare of the country. She never missed the evening news and had firm opinions about everything that was going on.
She is survived by Buddy and Marilyn Brock and family; Donna Gene Wedman and family; Carlton and Natalie Brock and family; Don and Pat Brock and family; Joyce Garcia and her children Lisa and Greg Gussler and their daughter Aubrey Smith, John and Linda Garcia and their children David and Suzy, and Bob and Lisa Garcia and their children Jack, Nick, Alex, and Sara; Pat Arne; Preston Brock; Jim and LaRee Brock and their daughter Ashleigh Brock; David and Debra Brock and their son Matthew Brock; Brent and Martha Ashabranner, Melissa Ashabranner and Jean-Keith Fagon and their children Olivia, Damian, and Giancarlo Fagon; Jennifer Ashabranner; and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.
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