Dennis Keith Brashear

Dennis Keith Brashear Passed away from this life to take his place in the next, on March 19th, 2020. He slipped away quietly in his sleep at his Riverside home in comfort and peace.

Dennis was born in Anderson Indiana to Katheryn Louise Hudlin and Robert Harding Brashear on January 2, 1945. He was the first born of five children. Anita Brashear, David Brashear and Darrell and Diana Brashear survive him. Dennis’s first-born son is Jamey Brashear from his first wife Nancy Fay Kish.

On March 14th of 1981 he married Joan B. Guerrero-Watson his wife of 39 years who survives him. In this marriage, Dennis acquired 3 step-children, Patricia R. Watson-Sanchez, Richard Cooper Watson III, Adam Grant Watson. He and Joan had a son, Nicholas Allen Brashear. They often joked about having “his, mine and ours”. He is survived by 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

In high school Dennis Won the Viking Athletic Award in Gymnastic and lettered in Varsity in 1962. He attended college for a time and majored in Civil Engineering. Which would later help in his chosen career as a Research & Development machinist in the medical field for Alpha Therapeutic.

Dennis enlisted in the Navy on September 22, 1963.and served until October 14, 1965 on the U.S.S. Chicago out of San Francisco.

Dennis was a Jack of all Trades type of guy. He could “Mickey Mouse” anything and it would work.

As everyone knows, he was really into sports. It could be football, basketball, baseball, golf, bowling, gymnastics, ice skating….it didn’t matter. As far as his favorite team; he loved USC and would sit in his USC cap and jacket and enjoy the action. When he and Joan married, he insisted on a contract that said he would be able to watch sports whenever he wanted with no penalties.

He was tenacious, would not give up, which is how he managed to get his wife of 39 years…. he just would not give up. That added to the fact that he was not afraid to try new things. This helped him when he decided to volunteer to do the lighting for Joan and her theater group’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” He knew nothing about theatrical lighting for a play, but managed to pull it off. He did a great job and won Joan’s admiration in the process.

In his younger days, he and his friends often got themselves in trouble. There are stories of his escapades and one in particular when he awoke to find that he had somehow obtained a tattoo on his arm. Apparently, his friends thought he needed this. He wore it as a reminder of what not to do!

Dennis had a heart. Most of the time he kept it hidden, but it was there. He could be gentle and caring.

His grandson Adam Watson Jr. said of him, “Rest in Peace grandpa Dennis. You have been a huge part of my life, and I will always remember all the good times. My grandpa was a rebellious, boisterous, wild man from the hills of Indiana, and he will be remembered well by his family, kids, and grandkids. I will always love you grandpa.

Jan/2/1945 - Mar/19/2020. ♡