Rebecca Ann Russell Brian, age 95, of Fairview, Texas, formerly of Naples, Texas, passed away Sunday, March 4, 2018 in Allen, Texas. Rebecca was born April 17, 1922 in Monticello, Arkansas to John Wiley Russell and Anna Elizabeth Marks Russell.

Rebecca was a member at First United Methodist Church in Naples for 50 years before moving to Allen in 2006. She has been a member at First United Methodist Church in Allen since then. Rebecca led quite the life. In 1942, she joined the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) unit in the Navy. Although she wanted to be a pilot, she trained for Aviation Machinist Mate. In 1956, Rebecca and her family moved to Naples and she began working for Lone Star Steel. In the 1960s, Rebecca survived breast cancer and began to volunteer for counseling with the American Cancer Society. She began teaching in 1965 at Paul Pewitt School where she taught junior high science and high school special education. She served as an officer in the Martha Laird Chapter of DAR, Alpha Upsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, Morris County Retired Teacher Association, and Morris County American Legion. She was a Sunday school teacher and Lay Speaker in the Methodist Church for many years. Rebecca was a founding board member of the Pewitt Education Foundation. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, crocheting, and quilting. She was also very active in sewing clothes and collecting supplies for her son, Tom's, non-profit organization, Send-Hope.org.

Rebecca was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, A.T. Brian; her parents; one son, Alan "Tip" Brian; five brothers; three sisters; and one great-grandson, Carter Michael Brian.

Survivors include two daughters and one son-in-law, Carol Henry of Aubrey, Texas, and Becky and Jerry Pate of Fairview, Texas; one son and two daughters-in-law, Tom and Sharon Brian of Allen, and Joan Brian of Bixby, Oklahoma; seven grandchildren, Chad Henry and wife Jessica of Richardson, Texas, Shelley Crutchfield and husband Coleman of Frisco, Texas, Clint Brian and wife Leslie of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Stephen Mendelsohn and wife Shalini of Chicago, Illinois, Clay Brian and wife Megan of Orlando, Florida, Chris Brian of Allen, and Kelly Brian of Allen; thirteen great-grandchildren; and numerous other relatives and friends.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at the funeral home. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church in Naples with Rev. Tim Edwards officiating. Interment will follow at Springhill Cemetery in Naples.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Pewitt Education Foundation or send-hope.org would be appreciated.