Bru (Terry Ellen) Brubaker Marshburn (April 26,1961-August 7, 2024) died peacefully at her home in Pueblo, Colorado where she’d moved from Texas a year ago to be near her youngest son, Coty, and his family– wife Courtney and two beautiful grandbabies who were the delight of her life: Carter (5) and Bella (2). Visits and calls with her daughter Jessi and son Seth-Adam and his life partner Victoria created many memories and times to reconnect. The past year has been a gloriously happy one for Bru as the opportunity to be with her children and grandbabies restored her hope, joy, and determination. The gift of being with her family, the people she most loved and respected, was immeasurable.

Bru grew up in Portola, California, a small railroad town in the Sierra Nevada mountains in Plumas County. The youngest of four children, she was determined to keep up with her older siblings: Vicki Thompson (Brian), Richard (Beth), and Tim (Rachael). And though she was always the “little sis,” she held her own, finding her place on the softball and track fields, and the local mountain ski slopes. She was always up for an adventure and spent many winter days sledding down the Portola streets with the other children who lived on her block, or riding bikes to the Feather River for a swim in the summer. Elvis Presley was her “king,” and she was devastated when he died in 1977. On the days she cut school, which were many her junior year, she could be found in a local park with a friend enjoying a hot pastrami sandwich with extra pickles and a frozen malt. She loved the Philadelphia Phillies, especially third baseman Mike Schmidt, and dreamed of skiing slalom in the winter olympics, a dream that came to an end when she blew out her knee. In this small town, Bru learned how to overcome physical setbacks as she spent a year recovering, determined to ski again. She also discovered the community of faith and the joy of surrendering her life to Jesus Christ at the local Methodist church, a decision that set her on a whole new path. Her perseverance and faith would become foundational in her life ahead.

After graduating from Portola High School in 1979, Bru was determined to go to college in Humboldt County where she started at the College of the Redwoods in Eureka, California, then transferred to Humboldt State University where she majored in Social Work, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in 1985. She had a strong desire to help children who were disadvantaged, overlooked, or mistreated, and spent many hours of her college career volunteering in the Big Sister program and working as a youth group leader at the Arcata Church of the Nazarene. In addition to the Nazarene Church, Bru was also involved with The Navigators, a Christian campus ministry that not only deepened her faith in Christ, but also provided a rich community of friends who accompanied her on many adventures during the college years–road trips to Oregon or SoCal in her bright green Subaru, all-you-can-eat pizza dates (I ❤ pepperoni), T-Ping the guys’ house (not a great idea in the Arcata fog), and bonfires at the beach-complete with marshmallows and guitar. She also learned to survive on hamburger helper, refried beans, and Dr. Pepper, care packages delivered by her mom who was a frequent visitor, using the cashed-in bottle deposits to buy food for the week.

At Humboldt, Bru also met and married Wes Marshburn (Escondido, CA), ultimately moving to the Lake Arrowhead area in Southern California where they established a business on the mountain that provided well for the growing family. Life was filled with the boys’ Little League games, where Bru served many years as team scorekeeper, and Jessi’s theatre performances and dance recitals, as well as involvement in the local church community. Family trips were frequent– to Escondido for holiday gatherings, summers on the beach in Oceanside, boating on the Colorado River, and even occasional jaunts to Mexico or the ski slopes. Her children were Bru’s pride and joy. Like her mother before her, (Velna Lee Plank Brubaker) Bru took great delight in all of her kids’ activities and enjoyed opening her home and refrigerator to the kids’ many friends. No one was a stranger, the food was always plentiful, and everyone had a place at the table. Because of this generosity that helped to create community, Bru’s children maintain close ties with friends from their early years and continue her tradition of generous hospitality and loyal friendship.

The last 10 years have been hard ones for Bru as she navigated a divorce, a move to Texas to start over, and severe health challenges, but God’s faithfulness and her trust in His goodness brought her through as she found love and connection among her sister and brother-in-law, new friends, and her H.E.B family along the way. Many people came alongside Bru in her journey and were treated to large doses of her humor, love for her sports teams (Phillies, Angels, 49ers, & Ducks) and Sherlock Holmes, her pride in her Jeep, the car of her dreams, and her loyal friendship.The family is deeply grateful for the loving support of her friends in Texas who whole-heartedly embraced Bru as she left her California home to build a new life for herself.

The family would like to thank all of their friends for their generous and loving support during this most difficult time. If you have a story or memory about Bru that you would like to share, please do so. We would enjoy hearing the stories and gaining new insight to our mom and little sis.

Thank you for being part of her life!

Jessi, Seth-Adam and Victoria, Coty, Courtney, Carter and Cabella

Richard and Beth, Vicki and Brian, Tim and Rachael

And The whole extended family 

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/bru-marshburn/obituary/

Copy