(February 17, 1933 – May 26, 2019)
Services celebrating the exuberant life of Don Brazell, officiated by Pastor Weldon Branham, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 30, 2019 at Stephenville Funeral Home in Stephenville, TX. Don passed from this earthy life into the arms of his Savior on Sunday, May 26, 2019 while surrounded by his loving family.
Donald Edward Brazell was born the youngest of eight children to George V. and Elsie Rives Brazell on February 17, 1933 at the revered Brazell home-place in Jakehamon, TX. He graduated from Desdemona High School, joined the U.S. Army at 18 year’s old, and proudly served in the Korean Conflict.
Don married Sarah Ann Carr 6 years after they first met at school in Desdemona, TX when she was in eighth grade and he was a sophomore in high school — she thought he was stuck up but he won her hand anyway with his gap-toothed grin. They married September 22, 1953. He switched branches of service and joined the U.S. Air Force, serving 23 years with pride and discipline while raising four children with Ann. They were stationed in Japan, Nevada, Montana, California, Texas, and Alaska as they built their life and raised their family.
Upon USAF retirement, Don went to college, taught high school R.O.T.C. and worked 17 years for the U.S. Postal Service. In 1990 Don and Ann retired to Stephenville, TX where they built a bounteous, rural home-place for their children, grandchildren, and large extended family to gather beneath their hospitable roof overflowing with the love of Christ.
A passionate bible scholar and devoted Christian his entire adult life, Don served as elder for many years at Westside Church of Christ in Irving, TX and Cross Timbers Church of Christ in Stephenville, TX. Immensely energetic, Don could be found daily in his yard and riotous gardens wearing his favorite overalls and straw hat, always wielding a hoe, a weed-eater, or a hammer.
When not reading his bible or gardening, favorite pastimes were polishing stones into jewelry for his daughters and building birdhouses for all of his family. His growly, bone-crushing hugs were renowned as was his boisterous laugh and sparkling eyes. His joy in the Lord and his zest for life knew no bounds. Neither did his appetite for sweets and Ann’s generous home-cooked meals.
The family is deeply grateful for the skilled care Don received from Mulberry Manor and the Solaris Hospice team. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your professional and empathetic care of our loved one and his family during his long Alzheimer’s journey.
Survivors include his beloved wife of 65 years, Ann; his treasured children, Debbie Sims and spouse Dave Sims; Mike Brazell and spouse Laura Watkins Brazell; Lynda Bell; Leah Bartelt and spouse John Bartelt; his doted upon 12 grandchildren and his prolific 20 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, his seven siblings and their spouses, great-granddaughter Rylee Kearns, and son-in-law Lionel Bell.
With Don’s death, an entire generation of the Brazell family has now passed into the eternal. He is loved and missed beyond measure.
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