Sylvia Ellen Brandt, 92, of Marcola(formerly of Sweet Home) passed away Sunday of natural causes surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Walterville, Oregon to Frank and Clara (Walker) Vaughan.

Sylvia was of pioneer stock. Her great grandfather, William (Bird) Vaughan, came out west with a herd of cattle in 1846. Her family history was extensive and even published in “The Meek Cut Off” and “The Wheel and The Hearth.”

During the first wagon train coming out west with a herd of cattle, some of the children on the wagon train stumbled upon what was later called the Blue Bucket gold mine when the wagon party was lost outside of Baker, Oregon.

Sylvia’s great-grandfather wintered over in Oregon City and went back to Virginia in the spring of the next year to bring his family out west with a herd of sheep and the first two Conestoga Wagons. Lucia Moore wrote about this wagon party in her book “The Wheel and The Hearth” about her grandmother, Pamela, traveling out west with the wagon party led by Sylvia‘s great grandfather, William Vaughan.

Her father was a farmer and her mother was a tailor. Sylvia grew up in Walterville, Oregon with her older brother, Hubert, and younger sister, Frances. She went to Springfield High School. She attended Eugene Business College and she worked at a bank.

Sylvia met Robert in the hop fields of Springfield, Oregon. They married in 1941 and traveled to South Dakota while Robert was serving in the U.S. Army. Once out of the service, they settled in Foster, Oregon in 1945. They had two children, Jack and Ellen, while living in Foster. In 1958, the family moved to Sweet Home, Oregon.

Sylvia did many different jobs when they were first married to help make ends meet. Her most important role though was being a devoted wife and mother.

Some of her cherished memories were of the times that she spent with family and friends at Clear Lake Resort in the summer months. During those eleven years, she worked along side: her husband, Robert; father-in-law, Otto Max Brandt; mother in-law, Dora Brandt; and her two children, Jack and Ellen. She would be up before sunrise getting the kitchen ready for the hungry visitors coming to the resort. Robert was well aware that many of the male visitors would line up at the counter ready for the good looking lady to come out of the kitchen and wait on them. It was hard work taking care of the resort, but at the same time the whole family has lots of fond memories of the time spent at the lake. They met many wonderful people. Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren can always return to Clear Lake to remember this special time.

Her hobbies included genealogy, bird watching, crocheting, reading, and writing. Her greatest love was being in the kitchen, cooking and baking. She loved taking care of her family.

Sylvia is survived by: her daughter, Ellen Douglas, and son-in law, Kenneth Douglas, of Marcola, Oregon; her granddaughter, Sherry Tillman of Springfield, Oregon; her granddaughter, Deborah Wise, and her husband, Dan Wise, of Eugene, Oregon; her great grandson, Daniel Tillman of Springfield, Oregon; her great granddaughter, Cortney Wise of Ashland, Oregon; her dear sister, Frances Gillette of Monroe, Washington; her niece, Suzie Gee, and her husband, Ken Gee, of Monroe, Washington; her nephew, Ronald Gillette, and his wife, Caroline, and his family of Eugene, Oregon; and her niece, Connie Cullen, and her husband, Ken Cullen, and family of Ashland, Oregon.

Sylvia was preceded by death by: her beloved husband, Robert H. Brandt, in 1997; her cherished son, Jack H. Brandt, in 1972; and her brother, Hubert Vaughan, in 1980.

We will miss you, Mom, but know that you are with Dad and Jack.

Viewing will be from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., Monday, February 11, 2013 at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. A funeral service will take place at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at Sweet Home Mennonite Church. Donations/Contributions can be made in Sylvia’s memory to the Sweet Home Mennonite Church or Marcola Mother’s Club.

Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet Home Funeral Chapel.