Harry (no Harold or middle name) Branson, 85, died November 5, 1981, a resident of Richland, Benton County, Washington at the time of his death. He was born in 1896 to William Andrew Branson and his second wife, Martha Ellen (Light) Branson. He had dark red hair, brown eyes, medium height and build. He was born July 6, 1896, in Judge, Osage County, Missouri. When he was 22, he married Alta L. Phelps, 20, (also born in Osage County, Missouri), the daughter of James Franklin "Frank" Phelps and Cordelia Rand, on Sept. 11, 1918 in Linn, Osage County and they went on to become the parents of six children:

1. Kenneth Harry Branson,
Birth: Dec. 10, 1919
Death: Mar. 11, 1994

2. Pansy Evelyn (Branson) Farris

3. William Keith "Billy" Branson, who died at the age of 15 from the bite of a rabid dog.

4. Harold G. Branson,
Birth: May 21, 1925
Death: Jan. 19, 1991

5. Irvin Branson,

6. Rosemary, who died as a baby

Harry and Alta divorced in the 1930s, and even though Harry made attempts at reconciliation, it never happened.

They were still married on April 11, 1930, on the Census for Ash Grove, Boone Township, Greene County, Missouri, renting for $10/month, when Harry was a Truck Driver for the Shell Pipe Line:
Harry Branson 33
Alta L. Phelps Branson 31
Kenneth Branson 10
Pansy Branson 8
Wm K Branson 6
Harold Branson 5
Irvin Branson 2

On January 14, 1920, they were farming in Crawford, Osage County, Missouri.

On May 3, 1910, Alta was living on a farm in Crawford with her widowed mother, who had 5 living children from 6 births, her 4 siblings, and her dead father's widowed mother:
Cordelia (Rand) Phelps (Mrs. William Pleasant Abraham Hassler) 33
Nellie Phelps 15
Dana Phelps 14
Marvin Phelps 12
ALTA L. PHELPS 11
Ella Phelps 9
Dorcas Phelps 79 [78]

On the June 29, 1900 Census for Linn, Crawford (West Half) Township, Alta's parents were farming, and her widowed paternal grandmother, along with her father's cousin, were living with them [ALL Missouri, except Frank & Dorcas Phelps]. They were farming next door to widower, John N. Phelps, 60, & family (probably Frank's uncle):
Frank Phelps 33 MO/GA/TN (Nov 1866)
Cordelia Phelps 23 (Oct 1876), 4 of 5 births alive
Nellie E Phelps 5 (Jan 1895)
Dora E Phelps 4 (Jan 1896)
Marvin Phelps 2 (Jun 1897)
ALTA L PHELPS 1 (Sep 1898)
Grandma Dorcas Phelps 69 TN/TN/TN (Aug 1830), 5 of 9 births alive
Cousin Fannie F Rhoads 14 (May 1886), Farm Laborer

They have all passed away now.

The family was from Owensville in Gasconade County, Missouri.

When Pansy was born in Joplin, it would have been during a brief time when her father worked there.

Harry Branson was the son of William Andrew Branson and his second wife Martha Ellen (Light) Branson. He was born in 1896 in Osage County, Missouri. He married Alta Phelps in 1918 in Osage County and they went on to become the parents of six children; Kenneth (my grandfather), Pansy, Billy, Harold, Irvin and Rosemary.Rosemary died as a baby and Billy died at the age of 15 from getting bit by a rabid dog. Harry and Alta divorced in the 1930s, and even though Harry made attempts at reconciliation, it never happened.