Annette Bryan
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Mom, Ma, Mother. Gram, Grammie, Great Grammy. Timmy Bryan, Nanny, Nonny. Roger, Little One, Peanut. Annette Bryan, known to dozens of young?and not so young?people by these names, lived her entire 94 years within the borders of her beloved Vermont, nearly all within a few minutes' drive of the South Hill home where she was born, the youngest of Celinda and Ernest Brown's seven children. After graduating from Whitcomb High School, she worked in the office for Fyles and Rice of Bethel, a company that made plywood for the interiors of World War II troop planes. Married in 1947 to Walter Bryan, the couple, who always lived in the immediate area, moved to their final Stockbridge home in 1969, where she lived the remainder of her life.
Annette was always active and loved being creative. Her love of reading and writing goes back almost the full 94 years. Even as the mother of four very active children, and the wife of a logger who also kept many farm animals, she found time to put her thoughts on paper, or to carve out a few late-night minutes to create some other form of art, including designing and sewing matching Easter dresses for her daughters. When she was not tending her very large vegetable gardens, she was canning the produce. If she wasn't planting flowers, mowing her enormous lawn, or weeding her massive flower beds, she was tending to the animals on the farm. It would be difficult to name a farm animal that she and her husband did not raise at some time or other: cows, horses, donkeys, chickens, duck, geese, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, cats, and rabbits. Often these were not the usual run-of-the-mill farm animals. Draft horses stood alongside miniature horses. Lop-eared rabbits were caged beside guinea hens. Later, exotic birds such as peacocks and pheasants found themselves next to nasty tempered emus. These creatures provided an unending source of adventures that she recorded as short stories. Ensuring that her hands were never still, Annette embroidered, crocheted, painted fabric, photographed everything from ponies to flowers, and served as secretary for the Mid State Draft Pony Association that she and Walt helped found.
Widowed in 2000 after almost 53 years of marriage, Annette began to look for other ways to fill her life. She continued to work in her massive flower gardens, prompting many passers-by to comment on their beauty and her endless hours of weeding. She began visiting the Royalton Senior Center, where she volunteered for the next 14 years. She began to travel for the first time in her life, seeing the ocean for the first time and going on week-long trips with the Seniors from the Center. She used every possible opportunity to dance and listen to country music, both of which she had always loved. She experimented with new crafts, creating dreamcatchers and making cards from her many hundreds of photographs. She continued her efforts to brighten the lives of others, making dozens of wreaths and holiday centerpieces to give away. At age 78, she added a new activity to her already busy and full life when she took her first of two lessons in oil painting, using the "Bob Ross" style to create tree, water, and snow landscapes. This became her favorite way to express her creative side, and she eventually began to experiment with her painting style. As she began to lose her vision, she found that she could still spend hours at her easel, even if she could not clearly see the results. In 2018, almost completely blind, one of her final paintings was completed with her then 11-year-old great-granddaughter, who helped her mix her colors. Using her finger to mark the edge of her canvas, she created what may be one of her best works, which was quickly purchased at the Senior Center's annual Christmas bazaar.
In June of 2018, following a difficult recovery from a broken hip and a leg that broke twice, Annette decided to have a Celebration of Life while she could enjoy it. The nearly 250 people who carved time out of their busy schedules to join the party and wish her well, and the dozens of others who sent cards, are proof of her impact on so many, friends and family alike. She will be deeply, deeply missed by all who knew and loved her, especially by her children N. Bruce Bryan and wife Joy, Jan Bryan Stratton and husband Vance, Ann Nichols, Donna Bryan and husband Sid Hotchkiss, her grand, great-grand, and great-great-grandchildren, and her many nieces and nephews, as well as her beloved dog Timmy.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to all who loved this wonderful woman and who were so supportive. A very special thank you to Dr. Milt Fowler, who was far more than a doctor to her. His years-long friendship and care were treasures in her life. As she wished, there will be no calling hours or public service. Donations in her memory may be made to the Royalton Senior Center, PO Box 344, 4266 VT Rt. 14, Royalton, VT 05068, or to the VT Foodbank or a food shelf in your town. Online condolences may be left at www.dayfunerals.com. Arrangements are by the Day Funeral Home in Randolph.