Brandreth McKinley Cole died on April 7. She was 84.

Brandy, as she was known, was born on July 14, 1941 in San Antonio, Tex, to Anne and Billy McKinley. As her father was an Army officer, she grew up in many different places. In 1954, her parents came to Martha’s Vineyard and bought a house. Spending every summer on the Island with her family became a constant for her growing up and led her to form life-long friendships. Her favorite thing was playing golf in the summer at Mink Meadows Golf Course, often with her mother Anne. Her love of golf, whether it be playing or watching, remained a wonderfully happy pastime all her life.

She graduated from the National Cathedral School in Washington, DC in 1959. She then completed her associates degree at St. Mary’s College in Raleigh, N.C. In 1968, she married David A. Cole.

Brandy then became fascinated with the real estate business. This interest eventually led to her rehabbing and flipping properties. Although Brandy and David divorced, they remained caring friends.

Her interest in real estate continued after she moved to Santa Fe, N.M. in the 1980’s, built a house and remained there until she moved to Totos Santos, Mexico in 1994.

She returned to Martha’s Vineyard in January 2019 for medical reasons. She moved into Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation in March and quickly became known and liked for her socialness, humor and genuine interest in people’s lives. It was her personality to relish meeting new people, learning about them and appreciating, always, their conversation.

For most of her six years at Windemere, she served on the resident council that met monthly to discuss any issues residents may have. She took this responsibility very seriously, always advocating for her fellow residents.

The last few months at Windemere were difficult for Brandy. She was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy in 2023. While the progression of the illness accelerated in the fall and winter of 2024, she coped bravely as she lost her ability to function in many areas of her body. In her last month, she had particular difficulty in communicating clearly. Despite this difficulty, she responded to the extraordinary Windemere staff who communicated lovingly to her, often serenading her with her favorite song, Tiny Bubbles. In response, Brandy’s face would brighten. She knew she was loved and was thanking them with a smile.

Windemere became her home on the Vineyard for the last six years. The loving care she received gave her immense comfort, delight, dignity, great fun and feelings of safety and security. Her family wants to acknowledge with deep gratitude “the team” of Paulette, JoAnn and Delrose who cared for Brandy in her final days, as well as Jewel, her nurse, who was there for Brandy from the very beginning. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And many thanks to all of the other staff and volunteers who helped her these past six years. Because of that, she felt important, valued, loved and not alone — such huge gifts for her.

Brandy was a force of nature to her sisters, loved ones, dear friends and, at times, no doubt, to her beloved CNA’s and nurses at Windemere. All her life, she cared fiercely, and she loved fiercely.

Her care of others was longstanding in her life. Her sisters benefitted greatly from her love and help. Despite her propensity to tell her sisters (and others) what to do, it always came from a heart of caring and deep desire to be helpful to people. She will be missed terribly.

She is survived by her sisters, Allison McKinley (Jane Hawkes), Courtenay McKinley-Griffin (Clyde Griffin) and Gabriel Louis Davis (Lissa Regnier-Davis).

To make a donation in Brandy’s name, please direct it to Lori McCarty (wonderful Activities Director at Windemere) for the “Residents Recreational Activities Fund”.