Bernetta M. Marsh
Aug. 29, 1913 - Jan. 11, 2010

Bernetta was born Aug. 29,1913 in Benwood,W.V. and passed away Jan. 11, 2010, in Lake Isabella. Her parents were Edward Brandon and Pearl Barker Brandon. She was one of six siblings, four boys and two girls; brothers were Leo, James, Ralph and Charles Brandon; and sister Mary Boginski Brandon. Her father, Edward, worked in a steelmill for 45 years. Pearl Barker Brandon, her mother, raised her family at home. Mommie's education was through the 10th grade, as her mother became ill and Bernetta helped take care of her mother and younger siblings at home.

Her youngest brother, Charles, 80, is her only surviving sibling, and resides in West Virginia and was raised by Mommie.

Her husband, my dad, James Clyde Marsh, was born in Bellaire, Ohio. This is a very small town on the Ohio River, which separates Ohio and West Virginia. My dad courted my mom by walking over the old Bellaire Bridge to meet her near her house in West Virgina. She was 18 and my dad was 20 when they married on Sept. 28, 1931. She too had six children like her mother; four boys, James, Harold, Richard and Jerry; and along came two girls, Sharon and Pamela.

My dad was a coal miner and lost his job in 1962, at which time we loaded up everything we owned and moved to California, just like the Beverly Hillbillies. We truly were hillbillies and didn't even know it.

My mom had several jobs in her life to help out with the finances at home. She did seamtress work making commercial draperes and also worked at a convalescent home in Eagle Rock for a number of years.

Daddy passed away on Sept. 11, 1978. Prior to this, he sent Mommie to driving school. She learned to drive on the freeways and did quite well. She traveled to Hawaii on two different occasions and was able to drive all over the islands sightseeing. That was really something. She became quite independent.

Bernetta was preceded in death by her husband, James Clyde Marsh; oldest son James; three brothers and one sister. Surviving are three sons, Harold, Richard, and Jerry; two daughters, Sharon Marsh Olivarez and Pamela Marsh Woodruff. She has 17 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great-children.

My mother was an amazingly resilient and strong willed woman. She was one of the sweetest and mild mannered people you were lucky to have known. She had an inner strength that I came to know as an adult.

Mommie was a wonderful cook and I learned by watching her at a young age. Mommie always dressed Pam and I alike and made all our dresses when we were little, each one in a different color. She taught us how to use the sewing machine. She also made us go to Sunday school and church every Sunday, and we did, like it or not. She molded us into the women we are today. Mommie also learned to sketch and oil paint beautiful scenic pictures.

When I was a little girl, I watched her cook everything from scratch. She and my dad canned all our vegetables. My favorite meal was fried chicken and homemade egg noodles, which she rolled out on the table and cut into long strips. We always had homemade bread; the smell of it baking is timeless. She made us a hot breakfast most days before going to school and dinner was on the table at 5:00 every night when my dad came home from the mine. She tucked Pam and I in bed everynight with a goodnight kiss. As she would leave the bedroom, we would ask for “just one more kiss goodnight” and she would come back to kiss us at least five or six times.

I will always love you with all my heart and will miss you more than you could ever imagine. Rest in peace and soar with the angels. We love and miss you. Sweet dreams, Mommie. Love, Sharon. Services were held Jan. 22 at Forest Hills, at the Church of the Hills.