John T Bracey

Colonel Bracey Obituary John T. Bracey, Sr. (Colonel U.S. Army, retired) died on March 19, 2007 at the age of 78. He was born in El Paso, TX in March of 1929. He attended Texas Western College where he received Bachelor and Masters degrees and later worked on a doctorate at UCLA. John was in the second Army ROTC class and was appointed a Distinguished Military Student and Graduate. He served in the Korean Conflict and Viet Nam. Colonel Bracey was a graduate of the Air Defense School, Command, and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces enjoyed a military career that would span over 30 years. As a young Captain, Bracey established the Army Junior ROTC program in the Ysleta Independent School District and came back to the YISD after his retirement from active duty to become the Director of Army Instruction until 1992. Bracey enjoyed a variety of interests throughout his lifetime. He was president of the El Paso/Southwest Area Professional Musicians Association for over 25 years and was named President Emeritus. He performed with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra and had a well-known dance orchestra throughout his high school and college years. He worked with the Music Performance Trust Funds of the Recording Industries and helped establish the Music Under the Stars and free musical concerts that El Pasoans enjoy today. John was one of the co-founders of the Southwest Personal Computer Club. He had a fifth degree Black Belt in the martial Arts, was licensed Amateur Radio Operator, and was a fifty year member of Masonic Fraternity Lodge 1111, Scottish Rite Bodies, and El Maida Shrine. John is survived by his son, John T. Bracey, Jr., a brother Larry Bracey of Mainesville, Ohio, a sister Sandra and brother-in-law Glenn of Rochester, New York, a half brother Dr. Phillip T. Smith and wife Ellen of Delmont, P A, and his caregiver of many years Margarita Venzor and his adopted son Ever Saul Venzor. Visitation will be held from 5 pm to 9 pm, Sunday, March 25, 2007 at Sunset Funeral Home-West with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 11:30 am, Monday, March 26, 2007 at Sunset Funeral Home-West. Interment will follow at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery with full military honors and Masonic Rites. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Rescue Mission or Salvation Army. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West. Please visit our online register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net