Livingston, bold springs Area, Polk County, Texas Grave Survey & Genealogy Research

Billie Jean Watson Brakel

Obituary published in the Polk County Enterprise – September 3, 1998 Edition

LIVINGSTON – Funeral services for Billie Jean Brakel, 69, of Livingston were held Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1998, from the Cochran Funeral Home Chapel, with Ed Smith officiating. Interment followed in Bold Springs Cemetery. Mrs. Brakel died Saturday afternoon, Aug. 29, at her residence with family and close friends by her side. She was born March 8, 1929 in Centralia, the daughter of J. O. and Gada Mae Austin Watson. She was reared in the Segno area and attended school at Big Sandy. On April 1, 1944 she met Tom Brakel. They were married in Houston on Aug. 19, 1944. Tom and Billie moved around for some time and

then settled in Livingston and reared a family of four children. Billie always felt that she lived a full a blessed life and believed that a mother’s place was in the home taking care of her family. Billie did, however, have a beauty shop, that Tom built for her, attached to the house, so that she might contribute financially to the family yet still be at home when the children came home from school. She was known as someone who was always there for her family. She managed a shop, her household duties, sewing and always found time to attend

every activity in which her children were involved. She and Tom enjoyed the last years of her life working side by side. They got into crafts and began attending craft shows. They would work for months on their crafts and then, about May or June, they would say goodbye to the kids and take off in their motor home to travel across the country, stopping now

and then to do a craft show along the way. However, Billie always made sure that Tom was headed back towards Texas by September because the grand-children were involved in various school activities that she just couldn’t miss. Mrs. Brakel was known as a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She and her husband celebrated 54 years of marriage on Aug. 19. Survivors include her husband, Tom Brakel of Livingston; two sons, Thomas

Kenneth Brakel and wife Kathy of Iola, Kan., and Billy Joe Brakel of Crowley; two daughters, Viki Renee Buller and husband Joe of Livingston, and Angela Brakel of Livingston; one brother, Kenneth A. Watson of Baytown; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Ricky Wilson, Ronnie Buller, Rex Minter, Jimmy Fears, Pete

Lawrence and Danny Malone.



Brakel, Thomas - b: May 15, 1922   d: _____; DS w/Billie Jean

*Thomas Brakel
         “Married Billie Jean Watson on Aug. 19, 1944”


Brame, James - b: Jan 10, 1929   d: Aug. 7, 1999

*James Brame
        PN3-US Navy-Korea {Married Rose Marie Watts on Feb. 27, 1952}
        {Son of William & Annie Barden Brame, son-in-law of

Weldon & Bonnie Martin-Watts}

James Brame

Obituary published in the Polk County Enterprise – August 8, 1999 Edition

LIVINGSTON – Graveside services for James W. Brame, 70, of Livingston were held Sunday, Aug. 8, 1999, from Bold Springs Cemetery, with Bro. Frank Hood officiating.

Mr. Brame died Saturday, Aug. 7, in Memorial Medical Center, Livingston. He was born

Jan. 10, 1929 in Onalaska, the son of William and Annie Barden Brame, both of whom preceded him in death. He served in the U. S. Navy during World War II. Mr. Brame was

a member of the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years, serving as past chief

of department. Survivors include his wife, Rose; sons and daughters-in-law, James Robert

Brame and wife Jerri of Livingston, and Jerry Weldon Brame and wife Charlyn of Trinity; grand-daughters, Stacy Walker of Livingston, Carrie Neese of Nacogdoches, Amie Brame

of Livingston, Ashley Brame of Livingston, Hannah Brame of Livingston and Kelsey Brame of Livingston; grandson, Thad Lindsey of Houston; great-grandsons, Brandon Walker of Livingston, Adam Neese of Nacogdoches and Matthew Neese of Nacogdoches; brother,

Ray L. Brame of Livingston; and sisters, Faye O’Grady of St. Louis, Mo. and Billie Brame Smith of Livingston. Cochran Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.


Brashears, Malissie Claudine - b: Nov. 14, 1879   d: May 3, 1973 – beside C. D.

*Malissie Claudine Sims Brashear

{Daughter of William & Josephine Berry Sims}

Brashear, C. D. - b: Jan. 23, 1876   d: Apr. 19, 1914 – beside Malissie

*C. D. Brashear

Brashear, Herman T. - b: Aug. 8, 1909   d: Mar. 9, 1997; DS w/Lorene

*Herman Truett Brashear
         “Married Lorene Essary on Sept. 29, 1928”

{Son of C. L. & Annie E. Finn Brashear}

Herman T. Brashear

Obituary published in the Polk County Enterprise – March 13, 1997 Edition

Livingston – Funeral services for Herman T. Brashear, 87, of Livingston, were held Tuesday, March 11, 1997, from Bethel Baptist Church, with the Rev. Frank Hood officiating. Interment followed in Bold Springs Cemetery, with graveside services under the auspices of Trinity Lodge No. 14 AF&AM. Mr. Brashear was born Aug. 8, 1909 in Bronte, the son of C. L. and Annie E. Finn Brashear, and died March 9 in San Angelo. He retired as a butcher with

Kroger Grocery Co. and was a member of Trinity Lodge No. 14 AF&AM. Survivors include three sisters, Mildred Stewart of San Angelo, Pauline McClary of Garland and Ila Anderson of Alabama; brother, Oran Brashear of Crockett and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Gladys Lorene Essary Brashear.

Cochran Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.



Brashear, Lorene Essary - b: May 2, 1908   d: Dec. 23, 1989; DS w/Herman

*Gladys Lorene Essary Brashear
         “Married Herman Brashear on Sept. 29, 1928”

{Daughter of Albert & Mary Elizabeth Marsh Essary, sister of Allen Essary,

granddaughter of James Evander Needham “Jim” & Cumi Carlton Marsh,

great-granddaughter of Manton Evander & Cynthia Gilbert Marsh}