Rayola Brandt

Rayola Brandt, 94, of West Lafayette, Indiana, passed away Thursday, November 16, 2023, at her home in the arms of her son.

She was born October 12, 1929, in Marshfield, WI to the late Royal and Henrietta (Kalsched) Brandt. She was a graduate of Ladysmith High School, earned her Bachelor Degree from University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI.  She received her Masters of Education from George Peabody College for Teachers (now Vanderbilt University).  Rayola was a school teacher with Longcliff School System in Logansport where she helped State Hospital patients earn their GED.

Rayola Ione Brandt married Robert Jacques Currie (decorated veteran of WW2 and Korea) on June 18, 1955.  Rae and Bob had four children:  Cynthia, born in 1958, married to William L. Sherman, (but retaining her maiden name of Currie), one child, a son, Spencer Brandt Sherman; Carletta Ann, born in 1964, married to Alan Barfield, one child, a daughter, Bridgette Ann Barfield; Mary Elizabeth, born in 1965, passed in 1965 at two weeks of age; and a son, Robert Jacques Currie, Jr., born in 1967.

Rae and Bob divorced in 1977.  In October 2002, Rae married David Shelton who preceded her in death in January 2015.

She was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tippecanoe County and was outstandingly active with the Church Alumni Group. She was also deeply involved with CASA, receiving CASA Volunteer of the Year Award for Indiana.  Rae was also a Gold Medalist with Senior Olympics in several sport categories for over fifteen years.

Rayola enjoyed playing golf, line dancing, and watching the TV show “Finding Your Roots.”

She is survived by her 3 children, Cynthia C. Currie of Spencer, IN, Carletta A. Barfield of Oakland, CA, and Robert Currie of West Lafayette, IN; 2 grandchildren, Bridgette Barfield and Spencer Sherman; and 3 siblings, Carletta of Tucson, AZ, Royal of TN, and Betty of AZ.   She is also survived by two step-children, Scott Shelton and Cathy Joann Shelton, Cathy’s son Anthony David Shelton, born in 1990, and Anthony and Harley Sheltons’ two children (step-great-grandchildren to Rae), Jaxon David Shelton, born 2015, and Ivvy Viola Shelton, born 2018. 

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Elizabeth, and her parents, Royal and Henrietta, her ex-husband Robert Currie in March 1993, and her spouse David Shelton in January 2015.

Memorial contributions in Rayola’s name may be given to the World Wildlife Fund,1250 Twenty-Fourth Street, N.W, P.O. Box 97180, Washington, DC 20090-7180.

A memorial service celebrating Rayola’s life will be held at a future date at Unitarian Universalist Church, 333 Meridian St, West Lafayette, IN 47906 with Rev. Jennie Barrington officiating.

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