Thomas Tracy Braneff, 83, of Huntsville and formerly of Vidor, passed away August 29, 2011. Thomas was born April 3, 1928, in Texla, Texas to Ira and Gracie (Colman) Braneff. A resident of Vidor most of his life, he moved to Carlise, Texas in 1983 and then to Huntsville in 2007. Thomas was a retired driver for Southern Pacific Transport where he worked for thirty-three years. He also owned Mutt and Jeff’s in Vidor for more than eleven years. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy and was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
He is survived by his loving wife of sixty-three years, Melba Braneff; children, Lou Ellen Barnard and her husband, Joe of Huntsville, Thomas T. Braneff, Jr. and his wife, Jackie of Temple, Sandra Jones and her husband, Bryan of Huntsville, Michael Braneff and his wife, Tina of Vidor; brothers, Charles Braneff of DeQuincy, Louisiana, Henderson Braneff and Estil Braneff both of Vidor, Robert Braneff of DeQuincy, Louisiana; sisters, Willie Lee Truelock of Campbellsville, Kentucky, Maggie Bloomfield of Evadale, Ellen Gilmore of Fairoaks, California, and Jean Gould of Vidor; eight grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.
His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 2, 2011, at Eastgate United Pentecostal Church, 290 South Street, Vidor, with interment to follow at Restlawn Memorial Park in Vidor under the direction of Broussard’s in Kountze. A gathering of family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 1, 2011. at the church.
