Walter Eugene Braly

His journey to the river’s edge began at his family’s farm and ranch home in McCullouch County, west of Brady, Texas, where he was born on September 16, 1928. He was the fourth of five children. When old enough, he and his siblings were soon attending to the chores of a successful, despite the Great Depressions, farm and ranch. This included milking twice a day, everyday, their herd of Jersey cattle. In those days, prior to pasteurization, “Braly and Sons” bottled and sold milk and cream in Brady and surrounding communities. Chores also included care of work horses, sheep, hogs, turkeys, chickens, and farm mules that were used for plowing and seeding crops.

His primary education began at Dodge School House, a two room building approximately three miles from his home. He was proud to say that regardless of the weather, he walked to, or when available, went by horseback to school once the morning milking had been done. Walter graduated from Brady High School in 1945 and The University of Texas in 1949, where he was a member of Theta Xi fraternity.

Not long after graduating from U.T., his father sustained a compound fracture of his femur in a tractor accident that became infected requiring antibiotics and a body cast for approximately one year. As an over-qualified bachelor, Walter returned home to Brady, and with his mother and high school age younger brother, managed the farm and ranch operations. These were trying times, especially dealing with a then record breaking drought and the family still grieving from the loss of his oldest brother, who was killed in action in World War II.

However, when one door closes, another opens. During this time he met the love of his life and eventual life partner of almost 59 years, Norma Jean Fain of Weatherford, Texas. In her first job, fresh from graduating from The University of Texas as the McCullouch County Home Demonstration Agent, they met and fell in love. They married in Weatherford on August 30, 1952. By that time, Walter’s father had recovered from his injury.

The newlyweds then moved to Houston, where Walter, owing to his background in the dairy business, readily landed a position as Sales Manager for Borden Milk Company. Norma was employed by Houston Natural Gas Company until the birth of the first of eventually their three sons. With the advantage of her undergraduate degree in Home Economics, Norma managed the home front.

After three years at Borden, Walter entered the field of life insurance and financial planning, which he found to be more suited to his character and independent nature. He became very successful, having been blessed with a persistent work ethic, magnetic personality, charm, and integrity.

Initially as an agent for Southwestern Life Insurance Company, he earned multiple honors, including Life Member of the Million Dollar Round Table and qualifying for Top of the Table honors for three consecutive years. Due to a buy-out by Tenneco, Walter retired from Southwestern Life. He then became an independent broker for Mass Mutual, Lincoln National, Great American, and various other life insurance companies. During his career at Lincoln, Walter was a member of the Lincoln’s President’s Club, which he earned as top producer. As well as a Chartered Life Underwriter, he earned the degree of Chartered Financial Consultant, and was a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers. Unfortunately, Walter’s career was shortened by the cognitive impairment of dementia in 2008.

In addition to his successful business career, Walter was a loving husband and father of three sons. He coached his sons’ Little League teams. (However, he was more adept as the life insurance agent!). As a devoted and life-long Presbyterian, he served for many years as an Elder and held several leadership positions at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. He was a permanent member of the Texas Exes.

In fourth place behind God, Norma, and the boys, Walter enjoyed what we eventually called “weekend ranching.” Although the farm and ranch in Brady was then and still is in Braly ownership, the prohibitive distance between Houston and Brady compelled him to purchase a modest amount of acreage between Brookshire and Hempstead, which was only about a one hour drive from his home in Memorial. There he raised beef cattle, controlled Huisache bush/tree infestation and did some “fiddling around,” as Norma described. He genuinely dressed the part, easily converting from formal business attire to Western jeans or khaki slacks and shirts, cowboy boots, and ALWAYS a Stetson hat.

Those left behind on this side of the river include his loving and devoted wife, Norma, three sons and their wives, Walter Grant Braly, M.D. and Lisa of Houston, Houston Fain Braly, Ph.D. and Laura of Corsicana, and William Joel Braly, C.L.U., Ch.F.C. and Betsy of Houston, his sister Alice Braly Gibson of Houston, eight grandchildren. The grandchildren include Frank Hansen Braly, Houston Lee Braly, II, M.D. and Morgan Fain Braly, the children of Grant and Lisa, Matthew Fain Braly and Walter Mason Braly, the sons of Houston, and Thomas Calhoun Braly, Virginia Kathryn Braly, and Allison Jeanette Braly, the children of Joel and Betsey. Also included are sisters-in-law Patricia 0’Rourke Braly of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Diana Dugat Braly, of Beeville, Texas. Nieces and nephews include Sheila Braly Gonzales of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Timothy Lee Braly of Corpus Christi, Anita Braly English of Dallas, and Alice Braly Whitley of George West.

Those with Walter on the other side of river include his parents, Houston Lee Braly, Sr. and Vonna Quick Braly, and brothers A.A.F. Lt. Houston Lee Braly, Jr., William Thomas Braly, and Dudley Quick Braly, D.D.S., and brother-in-law, Orville Hoyt “Gib” Gibson, Ph.D.

In celebration of his life, family and friends are invited to a viewing from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 4, 2011, at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home (12800 Westheimer on the northwest corner of the intersection of Westheimer and Dairy Ashford, telephone number 281-497-2330) in Houston. Walter will be laid to rest in his beloved Brady on Saturday, August 6, 2011, after a viewing/reception and Memorial Service from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Leatherwood Memorial Chapel (1001 S. Elm, Brady, Texas 76825, telephone number 325-597-0714). A brief graveside ceremony will follow at Resthaven Cemetery (on U.S. Highway 87 N. across from the golf course heading toward San Angelo).

Special thanks to the professional and caring staff and medical personnel at The Abbey Assisted Living and Memory Care Units, West Houston Hospital, Cornerstone Bellaire Rehabilitation Hospital, and West Oaks Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Walter Eugene Braly be directed to a charity of their choosing.