Ronald D. Brazzel

Services for Ronald D. Brazzel will be held at 10:00 A.M., Monday, December 29, 2014 at Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler, Texas with Reverend Dr. Chris Pulliam officiating. Burial will be Monday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. at Springhill Baptist Cemetery, Ringgold, Louisiana under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Ronnie left this world on Christmas Eve for a heavenly home that is free of pain. He is survived by his wife of fifty-three years, Mary Mosley Brazzel, two children, a son, David and his wife Kathryn and their children, Garrett Walker and Anna Marie, and a daughter, Jennifer Hunt. He is also survived by one sister, Sheryl Hutchens of Macon Georgia. He is predeceased by his parents, Ruth and Curtis Brazzel, and his brother, Jerry Lynn Brazzel. Ronnie leaves a host of nieces and nephews. Ronnie was born in Lisbon, Louisiana on March 25, 1940. His childhood years were spent in Minden, Louisiana, and in the summer of 1957, his father moved the family to Shreveport. He graduated from C. E. Byrd High School in 1958 having made another group of friends. L.S.U. was beckoning and he left for Baton Rouge where he quickly adjusted to fully supporting the Tigers and enjoying the food and the music. As he always said, “I ran out of money” and moved back to Shreveport enrolling in a wonderful Methodist College, Centenary. Ronnie was an avid learner and soon was recognized as the Colleges’ Outstanding Science Student. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics. After graduation Ronnie was employed by Honeywell and was regularly calling on Howe-Baker Engineers, a small company in Tyler. That company soon offered him a job and with two small children, moved to Tyler in 1968. Tyler quickly became home and Howe-Baker became “the other family.” He enjoyed all aspects of the years with Howe-Baker Engineers, from design, fabrication, sales, construction, and constant travel throughout the U.S. and more than fifty-five countries throughout the world. He often commented that he was so blessed to meet and interact with people from countries all over the world. He retired in 2002 as President and Chief Executive Officer. He was selected to serve as the first Chairman of the U.T. Tyler’s Engineering Advisory Board and enjoyed the company of people with an engineering interest. He endowed the first engineering professorship at U.T. Tyler. He was a long time member of First Christian Church and served as a Deacon, Church Treasurer, Chair of Finance, the Building Committee for the Christian Life Center, and recently on the Construction Committee for the renovation that is currently underway. One of his greatest pleasures was time spent in retirement at his ranch “Happy Daze” in Voss, Texas. His friends soon realized that the many exotic species such as Black Buck Antelope, Axis Deer, Fallow Deer, Native Deer, Big Horn Sheep, and Ibex Goats were to be fed and enjoyed but NOT to hunt. Ronnie’s love for his family and those two perfect grandchildren was unbounded. In lieu of flowers we are asking that donations be made to First Christian Church Building Fund, 4202 S. Broadway, Tyler, 75701, to The Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, Texas 75701, or to Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County, 211 Winchester, Tyler,Texas 75701.

Ronald D. Brazzel

March 25, 1940 - December 24, 2014