Marjorie Lee Branson

Marjorie Lee Branson, daughter of Robert Lee Branson and Mary Etta Cowsert, was born 15 April 1917. She was known as Margie.

Robert and Etta’s residence shifted about the time of the birth. Margie’s death certificate states she was born in Winkleman, AZ, and this is probably correct, though the family residence was at that point was in Kern County, either the long-term home of Randsburg or new accommodations in Keeler on the shore of Lake Owens. Soon they would move near Lone Pine, Inyo County, CA.

Margie’s parents separated when she was three years old. She lived with her mother after that. In the early 1920s, while Etta was married to William Thomas Ray, the family spent time in Utah and Colorado as well as California. In 1925 William Ray abandoned his wife -- including his young son James, born in 1922. By the time of that development, if not earlier, Etta and her kids had moved to the southern outskirts of Taft in western Kern County. As confirmed by the 1930 census, the family lived right next door to the home of Jack and Margaret Cowsert. Jack and Margaret were Margie’s uncle and aunt two different ways -- Jack was Etta’s brother, and Margaret was Robert’s sister. Margie’s aunt Mamie Branson Dougherty also lived in the greater Taft community, in the adjoining section known as Ford City.

Margie suffered from leukemia. In the early 1930s, Etta moved to the Los Angeles area so that Margie could receive medical treatment. It was, however, an era when leukemia was an incurable condition. Margie died of her illness 14 May 1932, at only fifteen years of age. She is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Compton, CA.