Tabetha Claire 'Tabby' Lancaster
Saturday, November 21, 2009 9:32 PM PST
Tabetha Claire
'Tabby’ Lancaster
Dec. 4, 1936 - Nov. 6, 2009
Ontario
Tabetha “Tabby” Claire Lancaster, 72, Ontario, shed her mortal bonds Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, at home with family. Tabetha was born, the third child of four, to Cecil and Vera Webb, Dec. 4, 1936, on the Stewart Reservation, Carson City, Nev. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Playa Del Rey, Calif., where her younger sister was born. She attended Westchester public schools. Tabby married Roland Hayhurst in 1953 at the tender age of 16 and had three daughters before they divorced in 1958. During that time, she attended courses at night to finish high school and took business courses to start a secretarial career. She worked at Douglas Aircraft Co. from 1957 until her marriage to Donald Bramson in 1959. They had a son before they divorced in 1962. She then went to work for Hughes Aircraft Co. - Space Systems Division and was thrilled to have met Mr. Hughes on one of his infrequent visits to that facility. In the following years, Tabetha lived in many places and held a variety of positions before settling in Las Vegas, where she met and married her beloved “Jimmy Emmett” in 1984. They spent many happy years traveling and camping in their motor home until his health failed. Col. James E. Lancaster, D.D.S. Ret., took his final journey May 26, 2006. During her lifetime, Tabby was a member of the Insurance Women of Reno, Nevada, serving as the chairwoman of the Safety Committee, National Business & Professional Women, serving as the chairwoman of the Legislative Committee, The Silver Circle Packard Club, serving as the secretary/treasurer, Order of Eastern Star, and volunteered in Sen. James McClure’s campaign in 1977. Tabetha was a big supporter of growth through education and believed that one of the greatest assets in life is to possess the ability to adapt to change. Although she was more free-spirited in her younger years than was acceptable at the time, she always lived life on her own terms and had few regrets. When I asked if she was afraid of her impending passing, she replied “I've lived a good, long life. I am ready.”
Tabetha was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in November of 2008 and moved to Ontario in January 2009 to be closer to family in what time she had left. She will be remembered by her brothers, Clarence and Phillip Webb, of Adrian; her sister, Justine Lewis, of Palos Verdes Est., Calif.; daughters, Vanessa Keys, of Perris, Calif., Loralei Baldwin, of Payette, Tamara Cleaver, of Nyssa; her son, David Bramson, San Diego, Calif.; her grandchildren, Jason Keys, of California, Joshua Keys, of Perris, Calif., Jessica Keys, of Perris, Calif., Erica Foskitt, of Las Vegas, Brianne Davis, of Fruitland, Cecil Baldwin, of Nampa, Idaho, Danielle Baldwin, of Adrian, Casey Cleaver, of Nyssa, Crystal Cleaver, of Ontario; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Tabetha believed that death was not the end of life, merely a change of state. Because of this, she requested that there be no funeral, no tears, but rather a toast and a fond remembrance. To have a laugh at happy memories and to keep her in our hearts. Happy trails to you, Mom, until we meet again. I love you. "She is free to fly"
