Roy Love Brasfield, 85, a former Baker County resident, died Feb. 29, 2008, at Richland, Wash., where he lived for more than 61 years.
There will be a memorial service and luncheon at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Richland Lutheran Church. A family inurnment ceremony with military honors will be later Saturday afternoon at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Thoughts and memories may also be expressed in the online guest book at www.einansfuneralhome.com.
Roy was born at Vale on Aug. 20, 1922, and lived his early years in Baker County in the lower Powder River region. In 1939 while in high school, Roy enlisted in the Oregon National Guard; his unit was originally mobilized in December 1940 and later deployed to Australia in April of 1942 during World War II.
Roy first met his future bride, Edna, at Rockhampton, Australia, as his buddy’s companion on a foursome blind date. Two years later, Edna and Roy were reunited in early 1944 and married in July in Brisbane, Australia.
Roy was shipped stateside in the fall of 1945 and honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in that year after more than 6 years of active military service. Edna sailed for the United States and the family was reunited in May 1946 at Portland.
Roy brought his young family to Richland, Wash., and began working in the finance area and later in the engineering department for the General Electric Co. In 1965, GE transferred management of the Hanford facilities to other companies and Roy went to work for a subsidiary of United Nuclear Corporation where he worked as a purchasing agent until he retired in 1985.
In the years after retirement, Roy and Edna traveled extensively throughout Europe, Mexico, Canada, and the United States-and, of course, to Australia.
Roy was a sentimental man of high principles and lived his life with honor, his family said. He was a great working partner with his wife. Roy was a stickler for details and an all-round great craftsman, which benefited many over the years.
He was known for being generous with his time and talents for his friends and family. He enjoyed his puzzles, movies – old and new – and he was an avid reader. Roy loved the computer age and was a great e-mail buddy; his e-mail list spanned generations and continents.
“My only significant accomplishment, and the joy of my life, has been our children,” he said.
He also was an involved and active granddad to five grandchildren
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Edna; his three children, Marilyn Brasfield of Las Vegas, Nev., Cindy Ducich of Federal Way, Wash., and Scott Brasfield of Pismo Beach, Calif.; grandchildren, Stephanie Owen of Sammamish, Wash., Christopher Mulligan of Bonney Lake, Wash., Ali and Stefan Ducich of Federal Way, Wash., and Michelle Brasfield of Pismo Beach, Calif.; five great-grandchildren, Wesley, Spencer, and Grant Owen of Sammamish, Wash., and Liam and Rilee Mulligan of Bonney Lake, Wash.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks friends to celebrate Roy’s life by contributing toward a memorial park bench to be placed along the Columbia River. Donations may be sent in his name to the attention of Dave Bryant, Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Drive, Richland, WA 99354. Checks should be made payable to the City of Richland.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, March 7, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor