Kathleen Mary Brannen
1962-2017
Kathleen Mary Brannen (née Batchelor), affectionately known as "Leeny" to her friends, and "Queen B" to her students, was born in Syracuse, New York to Kathleen Joyce (Whitten) and Donald S. Batchelor, the fourth of five children and self-proclaimed "favorite child" (which in fact, all agreed, she was). Hugger and smoocher extraordinaire, fiercely loyal friend, Harry Potter aficionado, lifetime lover of Snoopy, champion sleeper, and long-time community volunteer, Kathleen embraced life with passion and grace.
Kathleen graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in education and a M.S. in Deaf Education. In June of 1987 she married the love of her life, David Brannen, in Norman, OK. In 1992 they welcomed their amazing daughter, Katherine (Kate), into the world. From the Woodlands, Texas to San Antonio and from Broken Arrow to Edmond, OK, Kathleen loved, nurtured and taught children and always found a way to help others with her kind and generous spirit. After moving to Edmond in 2003, Kathleen formed a tight community of friends including her beloved "busy bees" and parents at St. Mary's Episcopal School, her "team" at Edmond Mobile Meals, and her dear friends at Bible Study Fellowship.
Kathleen enjoyed cooking, collecting cookbooks, antiquing, and rooting for the Sooners (much to the chagrin of her UT Longhorn husband). She loved to entertain and her "Gazebo Nights" were legendary.
She is survived by David, her loving husband of thirty years, and Kate, the daughter of whom she was so immensely proud.
In addition, Kathleen is also survived by her four siblings, Laurie Batchelor of Lakeville, CT, Sarah Harrison of Norman, OK, Donald Batchelor of Southlake, TX, and Nancy Batchelor of Oak Harbor, WA.
A memorial service will be held at St. Augustine Episcopal Church located at 14700 N May Ave, Oklahoma City, OK on Friday, August 25 at 1:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Kathleen's name to Edmond Mobile Meals, 25 W 3rd St, Edmond, OK 73003 .