Lois M. BRASFIELD
Lois Brasfield, age 91, a West Seattle resident for over 40 years, passed away December 12, 2012 at the Huntsville, Alabama home of her son and daughter-in-law. Lois and her twin sister, Lee, were born in Kodaikanal, India May 22, 1921 to Frank C. Marquiss and Anna (Gilkison) Marquiss. Lois’ father was serving as the “Attorney for India” for the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society at the time. The family returned to the US in 1926 and settled in Southern California. There Lois met and married the love of her life, Herman Brasfield, in 1939. Lois was the loving mother of 2 sons, Michael and Bruce.

Her husband’s career took the family far and wide, and most of her working life was spent within the defense industry. She was active in the Westside Presbyterian Church (Seattle) for many years and was the first female elected elder there. She was an avid thimble collector and participant in the Seattle Thimble Society. After the death of her husband she volunteered to serve with a Christian mission in Hong Kong as an ESL teacher. She was independent and self-sufficient until her health began to fail in September. She was cherished by all that came to know her.

Lois was predeceased by her parents, her older siblings, Kenneth Marquiss, Burnelle Marquiss, and Jeanne Marquiss Robinson, as well as her husband and youngest son, Bruce. She is survived by her twin sister, Lee Marquiss Wells of Ridgecrest, CA; eldest son, Michael D. Brasfield and his wife, Laura A. Eickhoff of Huntsville, AL; granddaughters, Laura Brasfield Robinson (Michael) of Fallbrook, CA and Marisa Mei-Ling Brasfield of Seattle, WA; grandson, David C. Brasfield of Los Angeles, CA; and “daughters in love,” Leslie Sumida and Sibyl Mills. She had a special place in her life and in her heart for great-grandsons, Zachary and Corey Robinson, and her nephews and nieces, Fred C. Wells and Karen Wells Toussaint of Ridgecrest, CA, Ann Marquiss Folsom of Monterey, CA, and John Marquiss of San Bernardino, CA.

At her request there will be no formal service. Following a family tradition, Lois' ashes will be scattered in Puget Sound, south of Alki Point in Seattle. In lieu of flowers it was her wish that all those who cherished her “redouble their demonstration of love to those around them.”