Laurel Brann

Laurel Louise Hansen Brann
May 25, 1941 - September 1, 2026

Laurel was born in Denver, Colorado. When she was a year old she traveled with her parents, Harley and Ruth Hansen to launch their west coast dream in West Los Angeles, California. There she welcomed her little sister Renee Ruth,brother Christian Soren and finally the baby, Anna Karen. She loved living in West LA. Harley and Ruth were on the move again in 1955, establishing Harley’s Machine in Anaheim and building a new family home in Fullerton, California.

After graduating from Fullerton Union High School, Laurel continued her love of learning with an associates degree, mastering secretarial school, and becoming secretary for First Lutheran Church in Fullerton. Her pastor, being somewhat of a match-maker, was instrumental in introducing her to Robert Brann, a handsome athlete and Korean war vet with a steady faith in God and a unique sense of humor. They were married in 1962.

Laurel and Bob welcomed David Herman (named after the pastor) Michael Stephen and Diana Lynn to their family in Fullerton. After years of weekend trips to their mountain cabin in Lake Arrowhead, California, the family moved there full time in 1975. Laurel dedicated herself to enriching the children’s lives with activities, books, crafts, pets (cats and hamsters), participation in the church activities, and volunteering in their classrooms. She modeled a love of nature,allowing her children to explore freely outdoors and occasionally house creatures they found (lizards, snakes, caterpillars) for a short time. She shared her love of reading and wordplay by having family read-alouds and providing books and magazine subscriptions.

With the children growing up to be adults and pursuing their own passions, she dove into her artistic journey. She was a member of Ms.allenous, a group of women who met monthly to learn and try a miscellaneous assortment of things including quilting, bread making, and traveling to Los Angeles for musicals (Evita, Les Miserarables). A trip to an apple orchard led to an annual tradition of making enough apple pies to stock the freezer for the year.

A community school ceramics class inspired her to buy a wheel and a kiln. Bob helped her set up an art studio over the garage. While taking classes to learn how to decorate her pottery creations, she fell in love with tole painting. Soon, Mountain Laurel Folk Art was born. Laurel became a highly skilled and prolific decorative painter, teaching lessons, painting professionally in homes and businesses throughout southern California. At least one of her ornaments was selected for the Smithsonian Christmas Tree. She traveled to several states for the annual conference of the National Society of Decorative Painters and was a member of the local chapter, Sugar Pine Painters. Her studio thrived under the watchful eyes of Clawed Monet, her beloved studio cat. She gifted many a painted crib, quilt rack, jewelry box and holiday decor. Throughout Laurel’s career as a painter Bob supported her by creating wood pieces for her to paint. After here tired they took breaks from the business for some international adventures.

Throughout the years in Lake Arrowhead Laurel maintained close connections with extended family through correspondence, visits to Fullerton and Bakersfield for holidays, or hosting family in Lake Arrowhead. After the studio was established, family members were often invited to paint with her. She also was involved in church activities, and community bible study. She enjoyed teaching Sunday school and vacation bible school.

Although Laurel and Bob loved their life in Lake Arrowhead, they grew tired of shoveling snow and evacuating because of fire danger. It was while staying in Bakersfield with her sister, Renée, during an evacuation from a major fire in the mountains that they decided to build a home in Solera, Kern Canyon. Laurel and Bob flourished in their new church, neighborhood and golf communities, while cherishing the loving support of Renée and extended family.After Bob’s death in 2014, Laurel continued bible study group, kept up walking and immersed herself in knitting. She knitted hundreds of hats that were donated to schools and her church. Laurel visited David’s family in the desert and went on the “Great Pacific Northwest Tour” to visit Diana in Juneau, and Mike’s family in Seattle, as well as some friends. The next year she added Anchorage to the itinerary so that she could visit Anna and her family. Her last years were primarily spent at Rosewood with the excellent care and support of staff.

Laurel lived her faith. She was a devoted wife, mother and friend. She gave generously; she saw and created beauty wherever she went. She was curious and encouraging, selfless and self-effacing, witty and smart. She was stead fastin her love for her children, grandchildren (Aaron, Harley, Raylene), and extended family. She was kind and positive. Our lives are much better because we shared life with Laurel Louise (Hansen) Brann.

A memorial service will take place in Bakersfield at a date to be determined.