‘Alaskan Bush People’: Memaw Headed Home, Never Reunited With Ami
It has been a bittersweet trip to Alaska for the now famous Earlene “Memaw” Branson. The 83-year-old mother to Alaskan Bush People star Ami Brown made the 7,000-mile round trip journey to Alaska in hopes of reuniting with her daughter for the first time in over 30 years.
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Earlene and her entourage went to great efforts to ensure the Alaskan Bush People family knew she would be coming to visit. Ami’s brother, Les Branson, told Radar Online he had tried to contact the Brown family through letters, but received no response. Les also publicly shared a press release through social media, in hopes the Brown family or someone from the Discovery crew would see the news of their upcoming trip.
“After suffering a stroke in 2012 and more recently being diagnosed in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, Earlene ‘Memaw’ Branson has not been able to contact her daughter by phone. So she’s packing up and headed to Alaska to try to find her. Her one wish is to see her daughter before she dies, and she’s willing to travel 7000 miles round-trip from Texas to Alaska to try and make it happen. She is being escorted by her great nephew, entrepreneur Charles ‘Chuck’ Gilbert from Denver, who is also financing the trip to fulfill a birthday wish for his aging aunt.”
Les also told Radar Online Earlene had shared with her family that it was her wish to see Ami before she passed away. Unfortunately, when Earlene and her traveling partners arrived to try and find the Alaskan Bush People wolfpack, it was discovered that the Brown family was not in “Browntown,” let alone Alaska.
so I met bam bam from the show Alaskan bush people in a random grocery store in the middle of Maui. I'm confused
— daniel (@mcnaughtydan) June 30, 2016
Pictures and tweets quickly started popping up on social media, placing at least four of the nine Brown family members in Hawaii. One tweeter shared that they ran into Bam Brown in a grocery store, while another shared a photo of herself with Rain, Snowbird, and Noah Brown.
Thus far, there have been no photos or reports of Billy, Ami, Gabe, or Matt Brown in Hawaii, so it is unclear if the entire family traveled to Hawaii, or if it was just the four that have photo evidence of being in Hawaii. Billy and Ami have repeatedly voiced on Alaskan Bush People that they do not like when the family is apart from one another. Given their strong desire to stick together, it seems highly unlikely four of the Brown children would travel to Hawaii on their own.
While the Browns seem to have completely missed the announcement that Memaw would be dropping by for a visit, the people of Hoonah did not. Once it became obvious Ami was not going to be there to reunite with her mother, the local Alaskans gathered together and made sure Earlene had a memorable trip. The Facebook page set up to catalog the journey, Memaw’s Trip to Alaska, shared this photo of a barbecue thrown in honor of Memaw.
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It remains to be seen whether or not the Brown family intentionally left Alaska during the exact time frame Earlene planned to visit, or if it was purely coincidental their Hawaiian vacation landed on the specific dates Earlene would be in Alaska. Discovery has also not yet addressed Earlene’s visit.
What do you think about the Brown’s skipping town when Ami’s mother was scheduled to arrive? Do you think the Brown’s made the conscious decision to not be there, or do you believe the Brown’s truly never knew Earlene was coming? Leave your feedback in the comments below and tune in for the next episode of Alaskan Bush People on Friday at 9/8c on Discovery.
[Image via Facebook]
