Obituary for Irene Brayton
A little star has burned out in our world. Irene Brayton, 91, beloved mother, grandmother &
great grandmother of Coldwater Lake, passed away Tuesday, April 26 at Parkview Hospital in
Fort Wayne, Indiana. Irene was born to Hiram & Dorothy Keith in Allen, Michigan on April 19,
1931.
She spent her childhood in Allen attending the South Allen Country School and 8th and 9th grades
at the Hillsdale School. She completed her high schools years at Quincy High School, graduating
in 1949. After graduation, she moved to Coldwater, where she went to work for the General Telephone
Co. Walking to and from work, Irene met her future husband, Bob Brayton, a persistent police
office who made sure he was always visible along her path. Irene then moved to Bronson with
her mom and went to work at the LA Darling Company during the day and helping her mom at
the Matteson Gardens in the evenings.
Irene married Bob Brayton on January 19, 1951 and they moved to Coldwater. In 1971, they
moved to Coldwater Lake. Fifty-one wonderful years were spent at Coldwater Lake in the midst
of family and very special neighbors who shared so many wonderful times together: beach
parties, yard games, card games, pot luck dinners, and many water activities. The lake house
became a place for her friends and her family's friends (and there were many) to "hang out'.
She always made sure there were plenty of snacks (Polish mistakes) to share with anyone who
happened by. She immensely enjoyed watching her grandchildren and eventually her great
grandchildren playing on the beach and loving all the lake activities. Her love of Yahtzee was
well known to all her knew her.
Irene was appointed Branch Manager of the Secretary of State’s office in 1962. She was elected a
member of the Democratic State Central Committee in 1968. In 1970 Irene resigned both
positions and joined the Branch County Sheriff's Department as a Deputy, retiring in 1977.
When her sister and brother-in-law opened Wilhelm's Wharf, she went to work part time,
helping prepare food and helping out in any other way she could. Working with family at
Wilhelm’s Wharf left her with many memorable times.
Irene enjoyed sailing on their 16’ Hobie Cat and participating in the Sunday races. She also
enjoyed their Gold Wing motorcycle, riding with groups for Sunday breakfasts and weekend
getaways. Many enjoyable times were also spent at their place up north snowmobiling with
family & friends. While living in Coldwater, she was very active in the Order of the Eastern Star.
Irene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bob in 2013, sisters, Clara (Bob, Gar)
Showalter, Barb (Keith) Wilhelm, a brother Bill (Marie, Betty) Keith. She is survived by sons
Patrick Brayton of Coldwater and Kevin (Sue) Brayton of Coldwater; grandchildren, Derek
(Rachael) Brayton of Quincy, Shane (Amy) Brayton of Ann Arbor, Chelsea (Chad) Bonmon of
Wyandotte, Sam (Misty) Brayton of Coldwater; great grandchildren Sophie, Rowan, Grace,
Arya, Kane, Lennon, Bella, Lexus, Jezzie & Chase; many nieces and nephews; and special family
friend, John Nimmo.
Irene will also be missed by her many, many friends who will always remember her for her
generosity, sense of humor, wit, and her ability to have FUN!!!!
In accordance to her wishes, cremation has taken place. A graveside service will be held on May
19 at 2:00 at the Matteson Cemetery, in Bronson, Michigan. Memorial contributions are
suggested to the Lakeland Fire Department or the Coldwater Lake Association Fireworks fund.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dutcher Funeral Home
517-278-2795
great grandmother of Coldwater Lake, passed away Tuesday, April 26 at Parkview Hospital in
Fort Wayne, Indiana. Irene was born to Hiram & Dorothy Keith in Allen, Michigan on April 19,
1931.
She spent her childhood in Allen attending the South Allen Country School and 8th and 9th grades
at the Hillsdale School. She completed her high schools years at Quincy High School, graduating
in 1949. After graduation, she moved to Coldwater, where she went to work for the General Telephone
Co. Walking to and from work, Irene met her future husband, Bob Brayton, a persistent police
office who made sure he was always visible along her path. Irene then moved to Bronson with
her mom and went to work at the LA Darling Company during the day and helping her mom at
the Matteson Gardens in the evenings.
Irene married Bob Brayton on January 19, 1951 and they moved to Coldwater. In 1971, they
moved to Coldwater Lake. Fifty-one wonderful years were spent at Coldwater Lake in the midst
of family and very special neighbors who shared so many wonderful times together: beach
parties, yard games, card games, pot luck dinners, and many water activities. The lake house
became a place for her friends and her family's friends (and there were many) to "hang out'.
She always made sure there were plenty of snacks (Polish mistakes) to share with anyone who
happened by. She immensely enjoyed watching her grandchildren and eventually her great
grandchildren playing on the beach and loving all the lake activities. Her love of Yahtzee was
well known to all her knew her.
Irene was appointed Branch Manager of the Secretary of State’s office in 1962. She was elected a
member of the Democratic State Central Committee in 1968. In 1970 Irene resigned both
positions and joined the Branch County Sheriff's Department as a Deputy, retiring in 1977.
When her sister and brother-in-law opened Wilhelm's Wharf, she went to work part time,
helping prepare food and helping out in any other way she could. Working with family at
Wilhelm’s Wharf left her with many memorable times.
Irene enjoyed sailing on their 16’ Hobie Cat and participating in the Sunday races. She also
enjoyed their Gold Wing motorcycle, riding with groups for Sunday breakfasts and weekend
getaways. Many enjoyable times were also spent at their place up north snowmobiling with
family & friends. While living in Coldwater, she was very active in the Order of the Eastern Star.
Irene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bob in 2013, sisters, Clara (Bob, Gar)
Showalter, Barb (Keith) Wilhelm, a brother Bill (Marie, Betty) Keith. She is survived by sons
Patrick Brayton of Coldwater and Kevin (Sue) Brayton of Coldwater; grandchildren, Derek
(Rachael) Brayton of Quincy, Shane (Amy) Brayton of Ann Arbor, Chelsea (Chad) Bonmon of
Wyandotte, Sam (Misty) Brayton of Coldwater; great grandchildren Sophie, Rowan, Grace,
Arya, Kane, Lennon, Bella, Lexus, Jezzie & Chase; many nieces and nephews; and special family
friend, John Nimmo.
Irene will also be missed by her many, many friends who will always remember her for her
generosity, sense of humor, wit, and her ability to have FUN!!!!
In accordance to her wishes, cremation has taken place. A graveside service will be held on May
19 at 2:00 at the Matteson Cemetery, in Bronson, Michigan. Memorial contributions are
suggested to the Lakeland Fire Department or the Coldwater Lake Association Fireworks fund.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dutcher Funeral Home
517-278-2795