William Ray Braun

William Ray (Bill) Braun Was born to Abe and Louise Braun on May 2, 1938, in Reedley, California. Bill was the oldest of his siblings. Terry, Louie and Kathy soon joined the family. Bill put his faith in Jesus while in grammar school, was baptized in the Kings River and joined the Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church

Bill attended Washington Elementary School, Grant Jr. High, and Immanuel Academy, all in Reedley, California. He also attended Reedley College, followed by Fresno State University. He graduated in 1960 from FSU with a B.A. in music.

Bill's father died when Bill was a junior in high school. Consequently, he dropped out of school sports to take a part-time job to help his mother support the family.

Bill met Carol Regier in 1957 and they were married in 1961. Sheryl Lynn joined the family in 1965 followed by Randell Keith in 1967.

Bill taught freshman Bible, girls' chorus, concert choir, madrigals and instrumental music at Immanuel Academy from 1961 to 1967. The family moved to Hillsboro, Kansas, in fall of 1967 when Bill joined the faculty of Tabor College as a music instructor.

In 1970 the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where Bill once again became a student. He pursued a doctorate in Music History and Literature at the Music Conservatory of the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He graduated with a Doctorate of Musical Arts in 1974.

In 1975 the family moved back to the Reedley area. In 1980 Bill was hired by the Selma Unified School District to teach instrumental music, spanning ages from elementary through high school, over the next 21 years. He retired from the school district in 2002.

In approximately 1987 Bill joined the Tulare County Symphony Orchestra to play in the french horn section. Within a couple of years he was moved up to the principal horn position. He enjoyed playing many of the classic pieces of orchestral music. During this time he also played in several ensembles as well as the orchestra at Reedley MB Church.

Another one of Bill's passions was his love of the outdoors. His very first backpack was taken with his brother Terry in about 1965. Over the years he went on many backpacks with the men from the Community Christian Fellowship of Reedley. He also made two trans-Sierra trips, hiking west to east across the Sierras. During the years when the children were in high school, the annual family vacation was backpacking in the high country of the Sierras. These trips were usually about 7-8 days in length. He also took many hikes with young people, exposing them to the back country and encouraging an appreciation of God's creation.

In 2017 Bill discovered a small lesion on his scalp. This was diagnosed to be nodular melanoma. Over the next 8 years Bill was successfully treated for Stage 4 melanoma. However, in February of 2025 Bill began to experience symptoms that were concerning. His health rapidly declined, and on March 18, 2025, Bill passed on to his eternal home with God.

Bill was predeceased by his parents Abe and Louise Braun. He is survived by siblings Terry Braun, Louie Braun (Bertha), and Kathy Atchley (Tim). His family remaining is his wife Carol, children Sheryl Reimer (Jeff) and Randy Braun (Maria), 7 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. We look forward to the day we will see Bill again.