Obituary

It is with a heavy yet rejoicing heart that we share the news that Christine Graham Brashears passed on from her physical body after a very short hospitalization for complications from lung cancer. Christine, dearest wife, sister, mother, grandmother, teacher and friend, joined the great Love surrounding and filling us all on August 25, 2020. She was 66 years old.

Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Christine spoke Arabic fluently. She came to the United States for university, where she met her husband Gary. She was the mother of five children. She was a talented artist and sculptor. She completed her undergraduate degree in education when she was 50 years old. She went on to receive a Master’s degree in Adult Education and found her calling in teaching English as a Second Language at the university level. She worked at both Whatcom Community College and Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA where she was beloved by students and staff alike.

She is survived by a loving family: her husband Gary Brashears, her sisters Catherine Graham Kelly, Rose Mary Graham Cavazos, and Sheila Graham Smith, her daughter Reta Brashears Graham and son-in-law Jeffrey Graham, her sons Gary Brashears, Jr., Finlay Brashears, John Brashears and Jimmy Brashears, and her grandchildren Finlay Grimsley Graham, Ada Gabrielle Graham, and Odessa Grace Christine Brashears. She was preceded in death by her parents Finlay and Julia Graham, her brother Jimmie Hagood, and her sister-in-law Nancy Hagood.

Christine and Gary celebrated 45 years of marriage in July 2020.

Diagnosed with cancer just two weeks prior to her death, it quickly became clear the disease had progressed much more rapidly and extensively than was expected. Christine accepted this news with her typical grace and peace.

Despite the restrictions in the age of COVID-19, Christine was surrounded by her husband and children in her last moments. Lucid until her final breaths, Christine maintained her sense of humor and deep care for the well-being of all those around her, including medical and nursing staff. She had a smile for everyone, down to the sweet dietary person who would bring her the much anticipated trays of Jell-O and juice.

In her final hours, Christine had joyful and affection-filled conversations via video call with all three of her sisters and her grandchildren.

For those of you who had the privilege of knowing her, you undoubtedly experienced her fierce love, her selflessness, and her advocacy for those encountering any of life’s challenges, especially her beloved international students who were far from their families. You witnessed the most loving heart that we have ever known. Thank you for seeing her for who she was, a fiercely loyal and loving person with no thought to her own wants or needs, a woman of incredible faith and service, a genuine Love Superhero with whom we were so greatly blessed to share our lives.

Christine will be laid to rest with a green burial in the Meadow at Greenacres Memorial Park. As a parting love offering, Christine bestowed the gift of sight to two individuals via corneal transplant.

Our family so appreciates the outpouring of care and support during this difficult time and asks that any gifts or donations in her name go to the charitable organization Kids Alive International, which supports refugee children in her beloved Lebanon. To donate visit https://www.kidsalive.org. Any gift may be noted in Christine’s name.

Please send communication or condolences to Gary Brashears, 251 West Bakerview Road, Suite 203, Bellingham, WA  98226.

Email correspondence can be sent to reta.graham@gmail.com.

A celebration of Christine’s life will take place on Monday, August 31, 2020, at 2 pm at Moles Farewell Tributes & Crematory – Greenacres Memorial Park, 5700 Northwest Dr., Ferndale, Washington.

Please RSVP to reta.graham@gmail.com, as numbers are limited due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.