Donald Ray Brackett

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Callahan-Edfast Mortuary Chapel.

He worked for the Colorado Department of Transportation.

He is survived by his wife Shirley LaVonne; two sons, Scott Ray of Berthoud and Todd Brent of De Beque; three daughters, LaVonne McLaughlin of Palisade, Shawn Bogard of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Radona Brackett of Grand Junction; a brother Elvern John (Bud) of Elk Grove, California; 11 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions to HopeWest and Hospice Care Center, 3090B N. 12th St., Grand Junction, 81506; or to Parkinson’s research or the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Donald Ray Brackett

November 17, 1935 - December 25, 2016

Donald Ray Brackett, 81, left this life on Christmas Day at Mesa Manor, where he had been lovingly cared for since February 2016.

Don was born November 17, 1935 to Myrtle (Stokes) and John Theodore Brackett in Boulder, CO. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; five children, LaVonne McLaughlin, Shawn Bogard (Dave), Scott (Kathy) and Todd (Tracy); 11 grandchildren, Brook, Raynee, Miruka, Steven, Denise, Danielle, Kortney, Dustin, Devyn, Cash and Chanse; 21 great-grandchildren; and his brother, Elvern (Bud) and wife, Joan, from Elk Grove, CA.

He is preceded in death by his father, mother and step-mother.

Don joined the Marine Corps on his 18th birthday in 1953, after graduating from high school in Grand Valley in May. After finishing basic training, he shipped out to Korea. After three years of duty, he was discharged as a sergeant.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 2 at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary, burial will follow at 1 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice, MS Society, or Parkinson's Research.