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Charleen Adele Whitmire Braunbeck Nov 28, 2010 12:00 AM A A Charleen Braunbeck, 70, was called home to Heaven on Tuesday, November 9, 2010, after a two and a half year battle with ALS. She was born on October 3, 1940, in Brookville, Ohio to Horton Whitmire and Irma Perry Whitmire. Charleen graduated from Glendale High School in Southern California in 1959, and later studied at Orange Coast College to be a legal secretary. In 1965, Charleen married Richard Braunbeck in Las Vegas, Nev., after which they established a home for their three children in Costa Mesa, Calif. In 1975, they moved to Ashland, Ore., trading city life for a small, working farm near Emigrant Lake. Charleen was employed as an instructional and classroom aide for disabled children through the Jackson County Education Service District. In addition, she was a Mary Kay cosmetics consultant; a Master Gardener; she loved to fish and raise canaries; and loved camping, traveling by station wagon and tent trailer across the West each summer when her children were young, and later by camper around Oregon with her beloved Richard. She also was a lover of fine art, antiques, flowers, shopping, and the beauty of God's creation. Charleen is survived by her siblings, Gary (Cheryl) Whitmire, of Reno,Nev., and Sylvia Barbusca, of Las Vegas, Nev.; children, Renee (Mark) Price, of Lakeview, Ore., Denise (Frank) Baratta, of Talent, Ore., and Kenny Braunbeck, of Central Point, Ore.; as well as four grandchildren, Brittney (Kevin) Waugh, Sierra Price, Aurora Price and Mckenzie Baratta. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Richard, in 1996. Charleen was a longtime member of Ashland Christian Fellowship, where she headed up the church's prayer chain and was known for her abiding faith in God. A memorial service will be held 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, December 4, 2010, at Ashland Christian Fellowship, 50 East Hersey St., in Ashland, Ore. A light lunch reception will immediately follow. Pastor Mark Anderson will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Ashland Community Hospital Hospice Foundation, 1970 Ashland St., Ashland, OR 97520. Arrangements by Litwiller Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland, Ore. www.litwillersimonsen.com