James Wilson Brazzil
James Wilson Brazzil, of Highlands, Texas, passed away on June 28, 2011. He was 95.
Jim, known as Wilson to many family members, was born on Nov. 16, 1915, to Alice Hamilton Brazzil and James Edwin Brazzil, the third of their ten children. He and his brothers and sisters grew up on farms in Coryell County near the town of Flat. As a youngster, he was fascinated with writing and the world of newspapers. He landed his first newspaper job, at the Coryell County News in Gatesville, when he was 21. His four-decade newspaper career included a tour in the South Pacific during World War II as a journalist with the 13th Jungle Air Force.
After the War, Jim worked at newspapers around Texas. In the 1950s, the family moved to Highlands, where Jim and brother-in-law, Alton Neatherlin, began publication of their own weekly newspaper, The Highlands Star. During Jim's 20 years as editor, the Star won 35 awards for excellence from the Texas Press Association.
In the late 1970s, Jim sold his half of the paper and opened Jim's Office Supply. There he and Bonnie continued to serve the needs of their community. When Jim retired from the office supply store, he began writing books. His first, Owl Creek, told of his childhood and family life in Coryell County. His second, The House of Coot, was a work of fiction set during the same time period. His third, published when he was 91, was A Thistle in the Wind, the story of his years as a newspaperman.
All three books testify to the importance of family, friends and community, and Jim embodied that belief in life as well. He and Bonnie were married 61 years and raised three children. Jim was a community leader in Highlands and served as an elder in the Church of Christ. In 2007, the Highlands-Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce honored him with the Terry Davis Memorial Award for a Lifetime of Achievements.
Jim was preceded in death by his infant son, Jerry Bob Brazzil; his parents, Alice and Edwin Brazzil; his wife, Bonnie; his brothers, Chuck Brazzil and Bill Brazzil; and his sisters, Bennie Williams, Charlene Neatherlin and Lois McCutchen.
He is survived by daughter, Bonita Tankursley and husband, Steven Tankursley, of Highlands; daughter, Susan Adcox and husband, Ronnie Adcox, of Baytown; and son, Mark Brazzil and wife, Leslie Brazzil, of The Woodlands. Also surviving are grandchildren, Nikki Tankursley, Leslie Adcox Sanderson and husband, Gordon Sanderson, Laurie Adcox Haffelfinger and husband, Clint Haffelfinger, Nathan Adcox, Will Brazzil and Caleb Brazzil. Seven great-grandchildren also survive, Hannah, Kylie and Helen Sanderson, Austin, Erik and Isaak Haffelfinger and Lela Adcox. He is also survived by his brother, John Brazzil of Canyon; and his sisters, Gladys Barr of Gatesville, Sarah McCutchen of Georgetown and Bobbie Geiselbrecht of Gatesville. Many nieces and nephews also survive.
Services were held Friday, July 1, at 10 a.m. at Sterling-White Funeral Home in Highlands.
Services were entrusted to Sterling-White Funeral Home, 11011 Crosby-Lynchburg Rd. Highlands, Texas 77562.
Gatesville Messenger, July 4, 2011.
James Wilson Brazzil, of Highlands, Texas, passed away on June 28, 2011. He was 95.
Jim, known as Wilson to many family members, was born on Nov. 16, 1915, to Alice Hamilton Brazzil and James Edwin Brazzil, the third of their ten children. He and his brothers and sisters grew up on farms in Coryell County near the town of Flat. As a youngster, he was fascinated with writing and the world of newspapers. He landed his first newspaper job, at the Coryell County News in Gatesville, when he was 21. His four-decade newspaper career included a tour in the South Pacific during World War II as a journalist with the 13th Jungle Air Force.
After the War, Jim worked at newspapers around Texas. In the 1950s, the family moved to Highlands, where Jim and brother-in-law, Alton Neatherlin, began publication of their own weekly newspaper, The Highlands Star. During Jim's 20 years as editor, the Star won 35 awards for excellence from the Texas Press Association.
In the late 1970s, Jim sold his half of the paper and opened Jim's Office Supply. There he and Bonnie continued to serve the needs of their community. When Jim retired from the office supply store, he began writing books. His first, Owl Creek, told of his childhood and family life in Coryell County. His second, The House of Coot, was a work of fiction set during the same time period. His third, published when he was 91, was A Thistle in the Wind, the story of his years as a newspaperman.
All three books testify to the importance of family, friends and community, and Jim embodied that belief in life as well. He and Bonnie were married 61 years and raised three children. Jim was a community leader in Highlands and served as an elder in the Church of Christ. In 2007, the Highlands-Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce honored him with the Terry Davis Memorial Award for a Lifetime of Achievements.
Jim was preceded in death by his infant son, Jerry Bob Brazzil; his parents, Alice and Edwin Brazzil; his wife, Bonnie; his brothers, Chuck Brazzil and Bill Brazzil; and his sisters, Bennie Williams, Charlene Neatherlin and Lois McCutchen.
He is survived by daughter, Bonita Tankursley and husband, Steven Tankursley, of Highlands; daughter, Susan Adcox and husband, Ronnie Adcox, of Baytown; and son, Mark Brazzil and wife, Leslie Brazzil, of The Woodlands. Also surviving are grandchildren, Nikki Tankursley, Leslie Adcox Sanderson and husband, Gordon Sanderson, Laurie Adcox Haffelfinger and husband, Clint Haffelfinger, Nathan Adcox, Will Brazzil and Caleb Brazzil. Seven great-grandchildren also survive, Hannah, Kylie and Helen Sanderson, Austin, Erik and Isaak Haffelfinger and Lela Adcox. He is also survived by his brother, John Brazzil of Canyon; and his sisters, Gladys Barr of Gatesville, Sarah McCutchen of Georgetown and Bobbie Geiselbrecht of Gatesville. Many nieces and nephews also survive.
Services were held Friday, July 1, at 10 a.m. at Sterling-White Funeral Home in Highlands.
Services were entrusted to Sterling-White Funeral Home, 11011 Crosby-Lynchburg Rd. Highlands, Texas 77562.
Gatesville Messenger, July 4, 2011.
James Wilson Brazzil
James Wilson Brazzil, of Highlands, Texas, passed away on June 28, 2011. He was 95.
Jim, known as Wilson to many family members, was born on Nov. 16, 1915, to Alice Hamilton Brazzil and James Edwin Brazzil, the third of their ten children. He and his brothers and sisters grew up on farms in Coryell County near the town of Flat. As a youngster, he was fascinated with writing and the world of newspapers. He landed his first newspaper job, at the Coryell County News in Gatesville, when he was 21. His four-decade newspaper career included a tour in the South Pacific during World War II as a journalist with the 13th Jungle Air Force.
After the War, Jim worked at newspapers around Texas. In the 1950s, the family moved to Highlands, where Jim and brother-in-law, Alton Neatherlin, began publication of their own weekly newspaper, The Highlands Star. During Jim's 20 years as editor, the Star won 35 awards for excellence from the Texas Press Association.
In the late 1970s, Jim sold his half of the paper and opened Jim's Office Supply. There he and Bonnie continued to serve the needs of their community. When Jim retired from the office supply store, he began writing books. His first, Owl Creek, told of his childhood and family life in Coryell County. His second, The House of Coot, was a work of fiction set during the same time period. His third, published when he was 91, was A Thistle in the Wind, the story of his years as a newspaperman.
All three books testify to the importance of family, friends and community, and Jim embodied that belief in life as well. He and Bonnie were married 61 years and raised three children. Jim was a community leader in Highlands and served as an elder in the Church of Christ. In 2007, the Highlands-Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce honored him with the Terry Davis Memorial Award for a Lifetime of Achievements.
Jim was preceded in death by his infant son, Jerry Bob Brazzil; his parents, Alice and Edwin Brazzil; his wife, Bonnie; his brothers, Chuck Brazzil and Bill Brazzil; and his sisters, Bennie Williams, Charlene Neatherlin and Lois McCutchen.
He is survived by daughter, Bonita Tankursley and husband, Steven Tankursley, of Highlands; daughter, Susan Adcox and husband, Ronnie Adcox, of Baytown; and son, Mark Brazzil and wife, Leslie Brazzil, of The Woodlands. Also surviving are grandchildren, Nikki Tankursley, Leslie Adcox Sanderson and husband, Gordon Sanderson, Laurie Adcox Haffelfinger and husband, Clint Haffelfinger, Nathan Adcox, Will Brazzil and Caleb Brazzil. Seven great-grandchildren also survive, Hannah, Kylie and Helen Sanderson, Austin, Erik and Isaak Haffelfinger and Lela Adcox. He is also survived by his brother, John Brazzil of Canyon; and his sisters, Gladys Barr of Gatesville, Sarah McCutchen of Georgetown and Bobbie Geiselbrecht of Gatesville. Many nieces and nephews also survive.
Services were held Friday, July 1, at 10 a.m. at Sterling-White Funeral Home in Highlands.
Services were entrusted to Sterling-White Funeral Home, 11011 Crosby-Lynchburg Rd. Highlands, Texas 77562.
Gatesville Messenger, July 4, 2011.
James Wilson Brazzil, of Highlands, Texas, passed away on June 28, 2011. He was 95.
Jim, known as Wilson to many family members, was born on Nov. 16, 1915, to Alice Hamilton Brazzil and James Edwin Brazzil, the third of their ten children. He and his brothers and sisters grew up on farms in Coryell County near the town of Flat. As a youngster, he was fascinated with writing and the world of newspapers. He landed his first newspaper job, at the Coryell County News in Gatesville, when he was 21. His four-decade newspaper career included a tour in the South Pacific during World War II as a journalist with the 13th Jungle Air Force.
After the War, Jim worked at newspapers around Texas. In the 1950s, the family moved to Highlands, where Jim and brother-in-law, Alton Neatherlin, began publication of their own weekly newspaper, The Highlands Star. During Jim's 20 years as editor, the Star won 35 awards for excellence from the Texas Press Association.
In the late 1970s, Jim sold his half of the paper and opened Jim's Office Supply. There he and Bonnie continued to serve the needs of their community. When Jim retired from the office supply store, he began writing books. His first, Owl Creek, told of his childhood and family life in Coryell County. His second, The House of Coot, was a work of fiction set during the same time period. His third, published when he was 91, was A Thistle in the Wind, the story of his years as a newspaperman.
All three books testify to the importance of family, friends and community, and Jim embodied that belief in life as well. He and Bonnie were married 61 years and raised three children. Jim was a community leader in Highlands and served as an elder in the Church of Christ. In 2007, the Highlands-Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce honored him with the Terry Davis Memorial Award for a Lifetime of Achievements.
Jim was preceded in death by his infant son, Jerry Bob Brazzil; his parents, Alice and Edwin Brazzil; his wife, Bonnie; his brothers, Chuck Brazzil and Bill Brazzil; and his sisters, Bennie Williams, Charlene Neatherlin and Lois McCutchen.
He is survived by daughter, Bonita Tankursley and husband, Steven Tankursley, of Highlands; daughter, Susan Adcox and husband, Ronnie Adcox, of Baytown; and son, Mark Brazzil and wife, Leslie Brazzil, of The Woodlands. Also surviving are grandchildren, Nikki Tankursley, Leslie Adcox Sanderson and husband, Gordon Sanderson, Laurie Adcox Haffelfinger and husband, Clint Haffelfinger, Nathan Adcox, Will Brazzil and Caleb Brazzil. Seven great-grandchildren also survive, Hannah, Kylie and Helen Sanderson, Austin, Erik and Isaak Haffelfinger and Lela Adcox. He is also survived by his brother, John Brazzil of Canyon; and his sisters, Gladys Barr of Gatesville, Sarah McCutchen of Georgetown and Bobbie Geiselbrecht of Gatesville. Many nieces and nephews also survive.
Services were held Friday, July 1, at 10 a.m. at Sterling-White Funeral Home in Highlands.
Services were entrusted to Sterling-White Funeral Home, 11011 Crosby-Lynchburg Rd. Highlands, Texas 77562.
Gatesville Messenger, July 4, 2011.
Family Members
Siblings
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Bennie Lee Brazzil Williams
1911–1997
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Willie "Lois" Brazzil McCutchen
1913–2004
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Thomas Chester "Chuck" Brazzil
1918–1995
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John D. "Pokey" Brazzil
1920–2014
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Gladys Brazzil Barr
1922–2012
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Sarah Nell Brazzil McCutchen
1924–2011
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Bobby Jo Brazzil Geiselbrecht
1926–2019
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William Knox "Bill" Brazzil
1929–1994
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Mildred Charlene "Sammy" Brazzil Neatherlin
1931–2010
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