Berneita Lee (Branen) Semones

Berneita Lee (Branen) Semones, August 13, 1925 - May 13, 2020. 

Berneita was born to Winnie Rhea (Kirk) Branen and Joseph Lamar Branen in Douglas, OK. She died with COVID-19 at Franciscan Villa in Broken Arrow, OK, comforted by compassionate staff.

Berneita loved and cared deeply about family and friends, her church, good food, and getting to know new people. She enjoyed reading, cooking, baking, sewing, babies, birds, card games and puzzles--crossword and jigsaw. She spent most of her years in Oklahoma, but enjoyed a five-year excursion to Belize, where she and her late husband, Edward Leroy Semones, were enriched by the new friends and culture they encountered. Berneita built relationships wherever she lived, from Marshall, Enid and Tulsa, OK to Belize to Franciscan Villa where she died. Her loving spirit lives on in all those who knew her.

The family is grateful to staff at Franciscan Villa for their kindness and care over the past three and a half years. The last four weeks when she was isolated with COVID-19 were made easier due to the help of staff with video conference calls through Zoom.

Berneita’s body is being cremated. Her ashes will be interred in the Covington, OK cemetery at a future date when a celebration of life can happen freely. Memorials are invited to go to local food pantries or to Engineers in Action. Engineers http://engineersinaction.org/ in Action (EIA) is dedicated to improving the health and well being of vulnerable communities in Latin America. They work in partnership with local communities to increase access to water and infrastructure, building their capacity and resilience. 

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