Memorial services for Richard
Larner “Rick” Brannan, 74, will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday,
March 15 at First Christian Church in Marietta with Pastor
Lawrence Anderson officiating.
Interment will follow in the
Lakeview Cemetery, Marietta under the direction of
Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Marietta.
The family will host visitation on Tuesday, March 14 from 6 p.m.
to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Born March 11, 1948 in
Gainesville, Texas, the son of William Raymond “Bill” and Bette
Ruth (Beindorf) Brannan, he died on Friday, March 10, 2023 at
his residence surrounded by family.
Rick and Melinda Gayle Sampson
were married on March 17, 2017.
A 1966 graduate of Marietta High
School, Rick continued his education at Murray State College,
receiving an Associates Degree in Animal Science and then
received a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Engineering from
California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo,
California. These degrees served him well during his lifetime of
helping others, farming, and ranching his properties in Loves
Valley.
Rick served his country in the
Army National Guard from 1971 to 1975. During that service he
received the Outstanding Graduate Leader Award and Rifle
Marksmanship awards.
He received many honors and
accolades for his community service and public interests. During
his lifetime, Rick was an active square dance club member, a
founding member of the Red River Tractor Pullers Association, a
lifetime member of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, a Noble
Foundation cooperator and also served on the Marietta Schools
Board of Education for 18 years. He was named an Advocate for
Agriculture, participating in “Farmers Speak Out” and the
American Agriculture Council in 1982.
Rick’s life was full of remarkable
times and interesting stories. Over the years, he helped form
the Love County Search and Rescue team, volunteered with the
Enville Fire Department, supplied and pulled the Marietta High
School Band equipment trailer, was the first Love County farmer
to grow asparagus, taught welding at North Central Texas
College, used and abused the first Caterpillar Challenger
tractor to give feedback to the company’s engineers, and even
spent several years driving a modified Dodge Power Wagon “Dune
Schooner” providing thrill rides to tourists on the sands of
Lake Michigan.
Additionally, hundreds of local
people called on Rick’s expertise and collection of unique
equipment to escape mud and trouble. His Unimog or massive
Autocar truck never failed to extract those in need, including
the railroads who occasionally called on him to recover and haul
damaged railcars. He was known as “the guy to call” when you had
something big or awkward to move, or even to demolish buildings.
Rick could build anything and enjoyed engineering solutions for
everyone. According to many, “when Rick made it, he made it to
outlast you.”
Rick was preceded in death by his
parents, son Zachary G. Brannan, and brother William “Bruce”
Brannan.
He is survived by wife Melinda of
the home; daughters, Marcia Brannan of Marietta, Sara
Brannan-Goodson and husband Trey of Marietta, Cathryn Brannan
and Nathan Grijalva of Marietta, and Abby Ford and husband Chase
of Marietta; and his four grandchildren, Axel Pierce, Betsey
Kate Miller, and Slade and Timber Campbell.
Rick’s large family included the
Fincher boys (Mike, Ernie, Joe Dale and Jimmy Don, who he
considered his brothers); Patsy Fincher; Taylor Stokes and sons
Ridge and Jack Stokes; Cole and Alyson Stokes and daughter Jaxee
Stokes; Margaret and Eddie Sampson; Branson Morgan, and the many
Brannan and Beindorf cousins he loved so dearly.
Serving as pallbearers are Mike
Fincher, Ernie Fincher, Gary Don Campbell, Josh Bazor, Mike
Cohoon, and Herbert Moore. Honorary bearers include Dr. David
Nichols, Joe Dale Fincher, Jody Fincher, Terry Minyard, Lewis
Douglass, Andre “Pupjoint” Blackburn, Becky Taylor, JD
Yarbrough, Jerry Burnett and the Ayala family.
Memorial contributions can be made
in Rick’s honor to the Shady Dale Fire Department.
A keepsake video is available
through the funeral home.
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