Karyl R. Oravetz Brandon

"Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles."


On June 26, 1945, Karyl Ray (Oravetz) Brandon was born in Rahway, New Jersey, twenty-five miles away from where the words above are inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty. This poem, written by Emma Lazarus, describes our Karyl. With her husband and family by her side Karyl, 74, died at her home and entered into the presence of her Savior on January 30, 2020.

The words of the Lazarus poem remind us of Karyl's love for the beach. The ocean kept beckoning her back to its sunset gates and sea-washed shores. Throughout her life she lived in New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois, South Carolina, and Ohio. Even though Karyl became an Ohio Buckeye fan, the sea-salt air and sun-kissed sandy beaches constantly drew her back. She especially loved spending a day at the Jersey shore with her family, saltwater taffy, Jersey sweet corn from a roadside farm stand, and also trips vacationing along the Carolina coast.

Karyl married Carl Brandon on March 6, 1965, at First Baptist Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Together, they raised five children and many therapeutic foster children. As the poet wrote, she indeed was the Mother of Exiles. Karyl's life-long passion was to provide for children whose life's circumstances were difficult. Her home created security of a family and an introduction to Jesus. The children she fed, clothed, and cared for had a renewed opportunity to flourish in life. With a heart and home open to children of all color and creed, language, and background, she held high a light of hope for those in need. Karyl received recognition for her outstanding service as a therapeutic foster parent from the Division of Youth and Family Services in Camden, New Jersey, and later recognized for over ten years of excellence in Foster Care from Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY) in Ohio. Later in life, this passion for giving care was evident in the meals she brought to Seniors in Cedarville, OH as a ministry for Grace Baptist Church.

Karyl was preceded in death by her parents Ray and Marjorie "Red" Oravetz. She is survived by her husband Carl Brandon, children Dixie Brandon, Ray (Grace) Brandon, Marjorie (Josh) Estoye, Carrie Brandon, Steve (Beth) Bailey, and John Curtis, grandchildren, Cole (Zayda), Mimi, Samantha, Roman Brandon, Will, Wes, and Wyatt Bailey, Lyric, Echo and Lydia Tate Estoye. She is survived by her siblings Sue (Jim) Peterson, John (Joy) Oravetz, Cathy (Brian) Schmid, Lisa (Ben) Reeder, and many dearly loved nieces and nephews.

Now that her battle with cancer is over, she stands in victory with her LORD, and Savior. Karyl knows the joy of heaven now, and we can't help to think that even now she calls out as the poem most memorably ends:

"Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Visitation for family and friends will be held Saturday, February 8, 2020, at 9 a.m. at Grace Baptist Church in Cedarville, Ohio, with a memorial service to follow at 10 a.m. Private interment at Cedarville North Cemetery will follow the service.

Carl and the Brandon family express their deep gratitude to Grace Baptist Church for their compassionate care for their family during Karyl's illness. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Grace Baptist Church for the Young at Heart Ministry to Senior Citizens.

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