Obituary of Irma Woodworth Bracken

Irma was born November 2, 1925 in Hartford, Connecticut. She was the first of two identical mirror twin sisters. Irma and Edie were the first children of Lemual & Elizabeth Stewart; a brother, "Bug", sister, Betsy followed later. Irma's parents traveled all over the country with the family. Her dad had a lighting fixtures business. They even lived together in a docked airplane for a short time. After graduating from high school, Irma went to William and Mary College and took art classes and later in Florida was a hotel photographer, she loved to take pictures. Around this time her Dad and Mom divorced. After the divorce, Irma and Edie ended up in California where they worked during the war and met their husbands eventually.Irma married Jack Bracken in 1948. Terrence Michael Bracken was born August 28, 1949, their first son, in Kewanee, Illinois where Jack and his family were from. Irma's husband, Jack, served in the Navy during WWII and beyond for ten years, including the Korean War as a Naval Officer Pilot and flight instructor.Eventually they moved back to Kewanee, Illinois and had three sons, Terry in 1949, Steven in 1960 and Stewart in 1963. Jack's family bought a Sinclair gas station in Kewanee in 1936 and converted the gas station into a Hotdog and Beer drive-in-diner with girls on roller skates serving hot dogs and beer. Later Jack and his brothers with his mom and dad built a large 300 seat restaurant serving several counties of loyal customers who loved steak dinners. As years went by my dad and his family built their three block Bracken's Shopping Center, Irma became a professional artist.Irma sold paintings all over the country even to a restaurant chain in New Mexico. She sold paintings at art shows in Colorado, Arizona, Minnesota and Wyoming.Later she sold paintings at Peterson AFB and Ft. Carson to the airmen and soldiers. She even gave a painting to George W. Bush when he visited Ft. Carson during his 1st term. After her unfortunate divorce in Kewanee she moved to Colorado Springs to be near her twin sister, Edie and with her two sons, Steven and Stewart.After moving to Colorado Springs, Irma continued her art pursuits and enjoyed life with her twin sister and new friends. For art shows, Terry, Sherill and family traveled all over this area together. Irma did many art shows at malls especially in Colorado Springs, Denver and Pueblo. In the 90's Irma would join her sister in Mesa, Arizona where Edie and Dean had a condo for the winter at "leisure world". They played golf and enjoyed many activities together. Mom also did many art shoes in both Mesa and Fountain Mesa, Arizona. Terry , Sherrill, Nica and Micah, with Irma, would travel to ghost towns in the desert around the Mesa area and to the Tortilla Flats, Arizona near the Dutchman Mine.She loved to be with Edie and Dean at Leisure World in the winter and have adventures with them and us.Besides Irma's adventure and art escapades, one of Irma's & Edie's passions was their golfing. They belonged to both Patty Jewett and Valley Hi Women's Golf Leagues. They golfed every chance they got and helped with the golf league's special events.In Irma's later years she started showing signs of significant memory loss and we truly feel that our Lord and Savior kept her safe. Eventually we had to make the decision that she needed full time care. She spent her last 4 1/2 years at Laurel Manor Care Center and until the last she enjoyed many of the activities and the staff even got her painting again. She won for three years in a row an award from the Alzheimer's Association tea in the spring for her art. The staff and volunteers at Laurel Manor loved Irma and took good care of her.We would like to end this overview and celebration of Irma's life with the most important part ........... Irma's relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Irma's life was full, but there was tragedy and sorrow in the midst of joy and peace. In 1989, a tragic accident took her middle son, Steven and if it wasn't for God and our Holy Spirit it would have been unbearable.We believe that Mom, Irma, would like you all to know and pursue a true relationship with God through his son, Jesus Christ, Our Savior. Don't wait until it is too late!We all fall short and now is the time to let his resurrection power live and reign in your hearts forever. Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart------ It's up to YOU to open that door and let him in.Funeral Home:The Springs Funeral Services3115 East Platte AvenueColorado Springs, , COUS 80909 Events Service Saturday, May 7, 2016 5:00PM The Springs Funeral Services 3115 East Platte Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80909 Phone: 719-207-8855