Gordon Glenn Brashear

Funeral services for Gordon Glenn ""Tip"" Brashear, 81, of Lufkin, will be held Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel in Lufkin with Pastor Steve Shirley and Pastor Calvin Kersh officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.
Mr. Brashear was born August 18, 1930 in Diboll, Texas, the fourth son of the late Johnnie and Ollie (Warner) Brashears. On August 11, 2012 (exactly three months after Louise's death), he left his earthly body and went to stroll across Heaven with her. He passed away in a Lufkin hospital with family members at his bedside.
Mr. Brashear was of the Baptist faith, and attended Lala Hill Baptist Church in Huntington. He played football, basketball and baseball at Diboll High School, and then continued his education at Stephen F. Austin University. Tip served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, and received a Letter of Commendation from the President of South Korea for his service in Korea. On November 2, 1951, he married Sally Louise Griggs and together, they raised six children.
Tip worked for Lufkin Industries, then for A.G. Perry & Sons Trucking until he started the Brashear Trucking Company, Inc., in 1977. He was a hard-working man who also enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, hunting, and growing hay for his kids' and grandkids' horses and cows. He really enjoyed working in his woodshop. Tip could make just about anything that he was asked to do. He built four of his children's homes as well as one for a grandchild. He also built his lake house, although he never seemed to stay there as often as he would have liked to. There was nothing Tip could not work out, and there was no better story teller of the olden times than Tip.
Survivors include his sons, Randal Brashear of Diboll, Marty Brashear and wife Rene, Robert ""Chip"" Brashear and wife Danelle, and Kevin Brashear and special friend Nita Ivy, all of Huntington; his daughters, Glenda Brashear, Kelley Foley and husband Todd, all of Lufkin; nine grandchildren, Robin Brashear and fiancé Michael Knight, Shoel Brashear, Tiffanie Villasana and husband Tony, Melanie Smelley and husband Matt, Brandon Brashear, Emily Brashear, Daniel Brashear, Mackenzie Foley, and Lexie Foley; three great grandchildren, Preston Villasana, Shada Tullos and River Knight (arriving in September); special caregiver and nephew, Keith Griggs of Lufkin; brother and close companion, Bennie Brashear of Huntington; brothers and sisters-in-law, Harold and Charlene Brashear of Lafayette, Louisiana, L.B. ""Snookie"" and Betty Brashear of Orange; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Billie and Travis Allen of Orange, LaVelle Griggs of Garland, and Johnnie Boston of Lufkin; foster brother, Richard Skinner and wife Vickie of Kirbyville; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a collection of cherished lifelong friends.
Preceding Mr. Brashear in death were his beloved wife of more than 60 years, Sally Louise Griggs Brashear on May 11, 2012; a beloved daughter-in-law, Melissa Woodall Brashear in 1992; his parents, Johnnie and Ollie (Warner) Brashears; twin brothers; and foster parents, OD and Verdell Skinner.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Shoel Brashear, Brandon Brashear, Daniel Brashear, Tony Villasana, Michael Knight, Brad Ivy, Jeremy Pierce, and great grandson, Preston Villasana.
Honorary pallbearers are Mack Cowart, Lester Lowery, Joe Warner, Robert McDonald, Lynn Bryan, Gaylon Wallace, Cade Williams, Keith Carrol, Bob Tucker, Donald Morgan, Carl McWilliams and Jack Goins.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 10900-B Stonelake Blvd., Suite 320, Austin, TX 78759 or online at www.heart.org; the American Diabetes Association, Houston Office, 2400 Augusta Dr., Suite 175, Houston, TX 77057; the American Cancer Society, 212 Gene Samford Dr., Lufkin, TX 75904; or to a charity of your choice.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.
Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.
Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors