James W. Brake of Nacogdoches, TX passed away July 12, 2018. Mr. Brake was born in Dallas, TX February 3, 1931 to Dr. Ira Fyke Brake and Dorothy Hawkins Brake both of Carrollton, TX. His family moved to San Augustine, TX in 1934 where Dr. Brake was a family physician. James moved under the care of his stepmother, Opal Owens Brake (now known as Opal Ramsey) at age fourteen and was raised by her until adulthood.
James graduated from San Augustine High School in 1948. He attended Stephen F. Austin State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry in 1953.
He married his college sweetheart Florence Jameson of Houston, TX on August 29, 1953 and shortly afterwards they traveled to Quantico, VA where he began officer training in the United States Marine Corps. He served as an artillery officer and completed overseas assignments in Japan and Korea. He was honorably discharged in August 1955.
He worked in the petrochemical industry as a chemist technician for six years. In 1962 he joined the Perkin-Elmer Corp. as a salesman. He joined Varian Associates in 1965 and finished his business career with them in 1991.
James is survived by his wife Florence, son James Frank Brake and wife Christine, grandsons Trevor and Hayden of Granite Bay, CA, sister-in-law Margaret Jacobs, and nephew Tony Jacobs and wife Anne of Nacogdoches, in addition to extended family in the Houston area. He is preceded in death by his brother, Michael Brake of Salem, MO.
Mr. Brake requested there be no formal service. He preferred an informal gathering of family and friends.
