Gretchen Kay (Westman) Braswell

Gretchen Kay Westman Braswell, 76 years old, of High Point, NC passed away, peacefully, on September 18, 2020 at the Hospice House of the Piedmont. She fought the good fight against Multiple Sclerosis and Scoliosis for over 35 years. Never has anyone known a stronger woman than she was. She never complained, she only pressed forward and upward.

She was born to the late Arnold Jay and Jean Marie Riedel Westman, September 2, 1944 in Fenton Michigan and graduated from Fenton High School in 1962. She studied Interior Design, at Kendall School of Design, in Grand Rapids, from 1962-1964. She graduated, with an Interior Design Degree, from Randolph Community College in 1998.

She was a most excellent, chocolate chip cookie baking, stay at home wife and mom for many years. She then worked, as a manager of gifts and interiors, at Ivey’s Department store for several years. After that she went to her very memorable job, in the Art and Photo Unit of R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. where she retired with 19.24 years of service, in 1996.

She is survived by her husband John S Braswell, they lived in High Point for nearly all 36 years of their marriage. Her brother John Westman (Susi) of Huntersville NC and sister Jean Westman Kinder of Flint MI. Also surviving is daughter Cheryl Hicks (Ted) of Statesville NC, step sons John Braswell of Myrtle Beach SC, and Brian Braswell (Amanda) of Sanford NC. Grandchildren surviving are Katie Barkman (Austin Woodward) of Greenville NC, Meridith Burke (Ryan) of Hampstead NC and Bailey Hicks of Huntersville NC, step grandchildren Shane and Evelynn Braswell of Sanford NC. She was also affectionately known as Donut Grandma (Great Grandma) to Kylie, Delainey, Bentley & Huntley Burke and Max Barkman. Surviving as well are cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was proceeded in death by her son Louis Jon Haynes in 2015 and her grandson Alan Carleton Stabler/Hicks in 2001.

Gretchen loved to sew dresses, blouses, suits, coats, costumes & home decor, quilt, knit, machine & hand embroider, cross stitch, bead work, paint in watercolor, oil & acrylic, draw, write, cook, bake, read her extensive collection of sewing/quilt magazines and art/craft/quilt books and decorate her home. She made rugs, fur coats, dolls, and cards. Creative talent is something she had an abundance of and what kept her going. She also loved plants. She knew their names and everything about their care just by instinct alone. Most of all though, she loved “The Cottage” on Lake Huron, in Forestville MI, that she spent all her childhood summers going to. If you knew her you have heard a cottage story or two.

She was a long-standing regular member and choir member of Forest Hills Presbyterian in High Point.

Gretch as some called her, was a friend to countless and from many different walks of life. She was generous, loving and giving almost to a fault. She was beautiful inside and out. Louie once told the story of how beautiful he believed her to be and how confused he was that all Moms were not as beautiful as his Mom.

She will be cremated and her family will have a private service and spread her ashes, in the spring, at her beloved Cottage.

A local Memorial/Remembrance service will be planned and announced soon.