Brenda E. Dawson

Brenda Evelyn Dawson, 81, of Fredonia, Kansas, passed away at home with her family, Sunday, December 15, 2024. Brenda was born November 27, 1943, in Allentown, Pennsylvania to Paul Clarence Gehman Jr. and Anna (Martin) Gehman.

 She attended and graduated from Nazareth Area Senior High School in Nazareth, Pennsylvania in 1962. She attended The Institute of Christian Service of Bob Jones University in 1962 in Greenville, South Carolina. Upon completing her three-year course, she received her Certificate in Christian Service on June 2, 1965. During her studies at the University, she met Max E. Dawson, and the two were united in marriage on August 20, 1965 in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. 

During her lifetime, Brenda had many challenges in her life, from being unable to bear children of her own, to debilitating vision loss for 30 years to most recently her battle with Breast Cancer in the Summer of 2012, after extensive surgery and 1 round of chemotherapy she was declared cancer free. Despite being unable to have their own children, Max and Brenda were led by God to adopt their first child, a three-day-old baby girl (Eve) from Worthington, Ohio, in November 1969. Twenty years later, they were led to adopt a nine-year-old boy (Eddie) from Kansas City. In 2004 they were gifted with another child to raise, their only grandson with the same Love and Morals that they passed to their two children. No matter how sideways her life had turned, her faith in God never wavered.

 “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist”; “that in all things he might have the preeminence”; Colossians 1:17 & 18B 

Throughout her working life, Brenda made sure to pursue many roles in helping people, from being a Nurse’s Aide for over 10 years to working for SRS and Windsor Place as a Home Care Provider for 15 years and being a Child Care Provider for over 20 years. In college, she returned home for the summer and taught horseback riding at the local church camp. Most notably her life was fulfilled as serving as a Devoted Pastors' Wife while raising her two children and grandson. Wherever she and Max felt the Lord needed them they followed, from Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Ohio, to Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas.

 Brenda enjoyed watching her crime shows, especially the ones where the bad guys are caught. She loved reading the Bible, attending church, singing, working on puzzles, sewing, and her two cats (Momma and Baby) Her pride and joy was her only Grandson. Her cooking and baking talent exceeded what most would call 5-star food. From Scratch Baked Macaroni and Cheese to Chuck Roast, Potatoes, and Carrots, to her ever-Famous Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Icing, her Love for comforting others in need cannot be forgotten. 

In addition to her daughter, Eve, Brenda is survived by her grandson Dylan Reynolds, Fredonia; son Eddie Dawson, Kansas City; sister Sandie (Paul) Loder, Greenwood, Indiana as well as many nieces and nephews. 

Brenda was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Anna, husband, Max and her siblings, Bonnie, Barbra, and Richard. 

Services will be held at 12:00 pm, Friday, December 20, 2024, at the Wickham Family Funeral Home, 510 N. 7th Fredonia, Kansas. Visitation will be at 11:00 am until service time at the funeral home. 

Graveside service will immediately follow at the Fredonia City Cemetery.

 Memorials are suggested to the Neodesha Bible Baptist Church and may be mailed to or left at Wickham Family Funeral Home 510 N. 7th Fredonia, Kansas 66736