Marie Oletha Brumm passed away peacefully on October 24, 2017. She was born in Lexington, OK, on July 4, 1919, to James Madison, and Lula Gault. Oletha graduated from Norman High School in Norman, OK, in 1938. One of her fellow Norman High School alums was the actor, James Garner, whom she saw at all the multi-class reunions over the years. She attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman where she met her future husband. She married John Edward Brumm on January 25, 1941, in San Antonio, TX, where he was stationed at Fort Sam Houston before his deployment to Europe during World War II.
Mom was a stay at home mother until we were all in school. She first worked at Ernie Pyle Elementary School, then Balmers Appliance repair, and finished her career as a buyer for Rhodes and Liberty House. Mom was proud of her Cherokee heritage and loved the San Francisco Giants, bowling, and dancing. She and Dad were very accomplished ballroom dancers beginning with their first date. While we were growing up, they went to what we called the "Old Folks" dances at the Eagles every Wednesday and Saturday. They always complimented each other with their dancing skills and continued their dancing at the Edison Social Club in later years. Mom and Dad shared 62 years of marriage and three children.
Mom was a past president of the Edison Social Club, active in the Fraternal Order of Eagles, National and California Branches of the Second Division Association, the Teamsters,
and many other civic organizations.
Mom was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John "Jack" Brumm; brothers, Ed and Thurman Gault; sisters, Louise Bell, and Anita Grant; and grandson, Scott Thornton.
She is survived by her son, Jim Brumm and his wife Yuko of New York, NY; daughters, Mari Brumm-Merrill of Pacifica, CA, and Vicki Koester and her husband Dave of Port Angeles, WA; grandchildren, Chris Brumm and wife Sarah, Jenny Brumm and her significant other, Scott Stanikmas, Laurie Rottach and husband Greg, Celeste Peralta and husband Guillermo, and Matthew Thornton; great-grandchildren, Katia and Mika Brumm, Hana and August Rottach, Dominic and Cheyenne Monares, Jayden and Dylan Peralta, and Malakai and A.J. Thornton;
and also by many dear nephews and nieces.
A Memorial Service will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 12, 2017, at 11:00 a.m.
Mom will be laid to rest with Dad at the Santa Nella National Cemetery in Gustine, CA.
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