Ila Brantley

Ila Mae Randolph Brantley went peacefully to her heavenly home on Saturday, November 28, 2020, with her daughter Dalinda and grandson Matt by her side.

Ila Mae was born on April 4, 1931 to Wade Henry Randolph and Ava (Swilley) Randolph.  She graduated from Glenmora High School and Meadows Draughon Business College in Shreveport, LA.

Her first job was secretary/bookkeeper at Oakdale Motors where she was introduced to Eck Brantley who was in Oakdale visiting his sister and brother-in-law.  His brother-in-law, Elmon Tonn worked there.  The owner, Pete Crawford, said Eck, I want to introduce you to my secretary, Miss Randolph, she’s looking for a husband.  Eck said, that’s good, I’m looking for a wife.  That was the summer of 1950 and they married on July 28, 1951. Eck brought her to Somerville where they made their home.  Her business career included employment with Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, US Army Corps of Engineers, during the building of Lake Somerville; Motel 36 and Overlook Marina, Inc.; General Engineering Corporation; Beverly Braley Travel and United States Department of Agriculture where she retired in 1993.

She and Eck were very active in the community.  She served as secretary of the Chamber of Commerce in the 1970s and also served on the Somerville ISD School Board where she held the office of secretary.  She was a member of First Baptist Church of Somerville and was youth leader and treasurer for many years.

Ila Mae, affectionately known as Meme, spent countless hours making birthday cakes, Halloween costumes, costumes for school and church programs for her grandsons.  One of their favorite things to do together was make snickerdoodle cookies.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Echmond Brantley; her parents, Henry & Ava Randolph; sister and brother-in-law, Elaine & R. W. Moreno; nephew and niece-in-law, Bob & Denise Moreno.

She is survived by two daughters, Debra Brantley of Bryan, Dalinda Leighton & husband Ricky of Caldwell; grandsons (pride and joy), Matthew Davis & wife Tammy, Daniel Davis and great-grandchildren, Madison, Brooks and Carmen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Somerville or Hospice Brazos Valley.

Debbie and Dalinda would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the administration and Staff at Burleson St. Joseph Manor for the compassionate care they provided to their mother for the last 2 years and 10 months.