Charlotte Pearl (Brasher) Combs

Charlotte was the seventh of eight children born to Gladys and Isaac Brasher. She was an active and mischievous girl who liked to have fun, tease people and love her family. She lived in Kentucky with her son Tony Bratton for many years. She worked as a production worker for Ezra Brooks and made many good life-long friends.

Charlotte and Tony moved to Washington state to be near her family. She began working at the Secretary of State’s office. On a visit to her sister, Juanita in Alaska, “Nita” introduced her to the love of her life, Leonard Combs. They married on May 3, 1986. She was blessed with another “Mom” & “Dad” and an extended family who she enjoyed spending time with and who she loved very much. They lived in Alaska for 18 years before Leonard retired. Charlotte and Leonard bought a home in Olympia Washington, and they moved there in September 2004.

Charlotte liked to dance and enjoyed rock and roll and country music. She also loved to listen to Gospel/Christian music. She enjoyed making craft angels, Christmas ornaments, floral arrangements and jewelry. She was a wonderful cook and at family gatherings, nephews and nieces made requests for her wonderful southern cooking.

Charlotte and Leonard enjoyed traveling and in the last few years they went to several places that she had always wanted to go, such as the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, the Tennessee Smoky Mountains, Washington, D.C., Williamsburg, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon Mexico and Hawaii. She also made it back to Alabama for several reunions to visit family.

She had a gift for making people feel special. She always remembered birthdays and would tell everyone that it was time to celebrate. She was a second mom to many of her nieces and nephews. Even with her large family, she would meet new friends and “adopt” them as part of her family. She didn’t just have family, and friends, she had a “tribe” of folks who loved her. She was the true epitome of “southern hospitality” where everyone was always welcome at her house.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents: Gladys and Isaac Brasher; her sisters: Mary Elizabeth Brasher, Katherine Bloom, Juanita Schroeder; and many aunts and uncles. They were waiting to greet her with open arms to her new home in Heaven.

Charlotte is survived by her husband, Leonard Combs; her son, Tony Bratton; her grandson T. J. Bratton; two daughters, Dona Farmer (Dan), Bobby Joe Reichel; three brothers, Gene Brasher, Milton (Mickey) Brasher (Louise); Alton Brasher (Dottie); and one sister, Glenda Burch (Skip), one Aunt (Lucille) and numerous nieces and nephews. We were very blessed to have Charlotte’s gentle and loving influence in our lives. While she has a new home, she will always be remembered, loved, and missed by her family and friends.

There will be a celebration of Charlotte’s life on Saturday, September 28th, at 2 PM, at Lacey Chapel, 6646 Pacific Ave SE, in Lacey. Following the service there will be a potluck meal for family and friends at the church.