James Earl "Red" Brasher

Notes:

Was in the armed services, stationed in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Worked for over 40 years as an independant trucker. Primarily he hauled grain from Oklahoma and Texas to the Port of Houston.

Email from Betty Strong on January 19, 2000: "Just a note to keep everyone informed. On Tuesday, 17 Jan., Jim Brasher (Caroline's husband) was transferring grain from his truck to the grain elevator in Chickasha, OK when he slipped into the augur and mangled his legs. His right leg below the knee had to be amputated. They have reconstructed his left leg and waiting to see if it will work. This is a sad time for all of the Strong's and his (Jim's) many friends and acquaintances. He is in the University Hospital in Okla. City. He is still heavily medicated. Caroline, Andy, & Libby are with Jim."

Obituary

James Earl "Jim" Brasher, 78, passed away peacefully at home Saturday July 15, 2017, in Duncan, Oklahoma.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, 2017, in the Don Grantham Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Glenn McGee officiating. Burial will follow in the Duncan Cemetery under the direction of the Don Grantham Funeral Home. Military honors will be provided by the Stephens County Honor Guard.

The family will receive friends on Monday Evening, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Jim was born on Nov. 10, 1938, in a pre-Civil War cabin in rural Decatur County, Tennessee, near the town of Decaturville. Jim, nicknamed "Red", was the fourth of eight children of his beloved parents Elvin and Flora Brasher. Jim entered the U.S. Army in 1957 and served as a radio operator overseas in Thule, Greenland. In 1959, while stationed at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, he met Mary Caroline Strong from Duncan. They fell in love and were married on May 28, 1960. The newlyweds settled in Duncan, where they raised their four children and became life-long residents.

Jim worked at Halliburton in the shop from 1961 to 1972. Combining his love of trucks, people, and the outdoors, he bought a hay truck in 1967 and spent summers after work hauling hay around Stephens County for many farmers and ranchers. In 1974, Jim bought a semi-truck and started hauling grain and hay over the road as an independent owner-operator. The challenge and freedom of this way of life perfectly suited his spirit of independence, and provided a good living.

The family made many great memories on vacations to Tennessee, Colorado, and Texas. He also loved the role of "local tour guide" for any visitors. When Jim lost a leg in an accident in 2000, his positive attitude and strong character drove him to persevere, and he was back trucking again the next year.

Jim had a strong passion for honoring fellow veterans by helping them obtain the disability benefits they deserved by offering them transportation and crucial guidance through the VA system. After retirement in 2010, he was a fixture at the Duncan VFW where he enjoyed playing cards with many friends.

Jim's smile, winning personality, strong work ethic, and selfless dedication to helping others were hallmarks of his character. Jim never met a stranger, and never failed to aid someone in need, even if they didn't ask. Jim was a dedicated and beloved husband, father and grandfather who was proud of his kids and grandkids. He cherished spending time visiting with every one of his family and friends.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Paul, Jerry and Larry and sister Mary Ruth and beautiful granddaughter Alexandra.

Jim is survived by his wife, Caroline Brasher, of Duncan; Regina Stuart, and her husband, Don; Libby Morris and her husband, Terry; Andy Brasher and wife Kim; and Patti Moore and her husband Steve. Grandchildren Brandon, Shelby, Beau, Victoria, Trevor, Caroline, Jeremy, Caelan, Shannon and Kathleen. Great-grandchildren Jackson, Addison, James, Elizabeth and Clay all of whom he loved and was so very proud of.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Duncan VFW Post 1192, 2012 N. Hwy 81, Duncan, OK 73533.

Pallbearers were Butch Johnson, Randy Montgomery, Red Lowe, Jimmy Ledford, Roy McCauley, Darryl Loveday and Dayne Ledford

Online condolences an be sent to the family at www.granthanmfuneralhomes.com.
Published on July 17, 2017

James married Mary Caroline Strong on 28 May 1960 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. Mary (daughter of Homer Richard Strong and Anna Laura Payne) was born on 18 Mar 1939 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; died on 5 Jan 2018 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; was buried on 8 Jan 2018 in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living
2. Living
3. Living
4. Patricia "Patti" Lynn Brasher was born on 29 Jan 1965 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; died on 10 Nov 2020 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.