Mary Faye Brunoff

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Mary Faye Brunoff, 81, passed away peacefully at her home in Adna, Wash., July 5, 2016, surrounded by her family.

Mary Faye (James) Brunoff was born in Yellville, Ark., Aug. 28, 1934, the daughter of John Hammond James Sr. and Helen Flora (Wood) James and the oldest of three children.

Mary attended Flippin High School in Flippin, Ark., where she was head cheerleader and graduated valedictorian of her class. Upon graduating from high school, she attended the University of Arkansas.

While working in Seattle as a telephone operator, she met Charles Brunoff on a blind date and they were married on the Brunoff Edgewood Farm Aug. 25, 1956. She and Charles worked the family farm in Edgewood and Mary was active in the garden club and the local PTA. Creative and artistic, Mary enjoyed arranging flowers and working on projects at the school. In 1968, Mary, Charles and their two children, Lisa and John moved to Adna, Wash., after purchasing a larger farm.

They raised chickens, cattle and many types of crops over the years. Although she worked on the farm and ran a household, she always found time to grow an enormous garden and to sprinkle flowers between the vegetables. Mary's home was open for family and friends to visit any time and it was not unusual to have cousins or friends staying for a weekend or for several months. Mary enjoyed many trips to Arkansas, visiting with family and helping to care for her parents.  After retiring, Mary and Charles traveled to Arkansas to stay the winter at her family home to be near her family.

Avidly interested in the surrounding world, Mary always had several books going. She was particularly interested in history, archeology and art.  She found joy in simple things, taking walks, rockhounding, beachcombing and bird watching. All dogs and cats were welcomed by Mary.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Charles and her infant son, James Alexander Brunoff.

She is survived by her daughter, Lisa Gallagher (Fred); son, John Brunoff (Sue); brothers, John James (Sharon) of Flippin, Ark., and Gary James (Laurie) of Tucson, Ariz.; five  grandsons, Charles Gallagher (Katy), Eric Gallagher (Anita), RJ Brunoff, Cooper Brunoff and Angus Brunoff; and two great-grandchildren, Grayson and Emma Gallagher.

Mary taught us to see the beauty in our surroundings and the good in others. No one could light up a room quite like Granny B. Always the life of the party and the smartest person in the room.  

Charles and Mary Brunoff both felt that education was critical for the growth of individuals and encouraged kids to reach their potential. After the death of Charles, a scholarship was started to help the next generation advance their education. As of today, the Charles and Mary Brunoff Scholarship has awarded 16 annual scholarships.

Donations would be gratefully received in Mary’s honor: Charles and Mary (James) Brunoff Scholarship Fund,   Adna School District, P.O. Box 93, Chehalis, WA 98522. No service is planned at this time.