Public Health Nurse In Maryland For 30 Years

Mary Beatrice Brashears, 78, passed away on Monday, May 8, 2006 in her home near Buena Vista, Virginia, with her family by her side. She was born on October 9, 1927 in New Jersey, the youngest daughter of Eva and Joseph Meldru.

She grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylavania and graduated from the Philadelphia General Hospital School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse in 1948. She earned her BSN in 1976 from the University of Maryland. During World War II, Mary was a member of the Cadet Nurse Corps of the United States Public Health Service. She was stationed on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota and the Navaho Indian Reservation in New Mexico. Upon returning to Washington, DC, she worked as a staff nurse at a US Public Service hospital. After moving to Mayo, Maryland, she worked as a staff nurse at Anne Arundel General Hospital and as a private duty nurse. She worked as a Public Health Nurse in Anne Arundel County, Maryland for 30 years, before retiring to Rockbridge County, Virginia in 1996.

Mary is predeceased in death by her husband Howell G. Brashears, Sr., son Howell G. Brashears, Jr., brothers Joseph and Edward Meldru and sister Cecilia Gochenauer.

Mary is survived by her daughter Lori Brashears; her son and daughter-in-law Mark and Vicki Brashears; 6 grandchildren: Kim Tucker, Jeff Brashears, Ben Brashears, Lindsey Snider, Nathan Brashears, Ashley Brashears and 11 great grandchildren.

Contributions in Mary's honor may be made to the Rockbridge Area Hospice or the Tuba City Public Library, P.O. Box 190, Tuba City, AZ 86045, to purchase books for the Navaho children. Throughout her life, Mary had a kind word for everyone. In honor of Mary, nothing would please her more than for everyone to be kind and giving to others in need. Services will be private. Arrangements by the Bolling, Grose & Lotts Funeral Service, Buena Vista, VA.