Truman Breed Jr.

Truman Breed Jr, 89, was called home to Heaven on September 30, 2024. He was surrounded by family as he peacefully went to be with his son and many other loved ones. He never knew a stranger, always had a smile on his face, and always had a warm but firm handshake. For all who knew Truman, his love for family, business, investments, ranching and golf will never be forgotten. For through these passions you likely knew him.

He was born on July 2nd, 1935 in Dripping Springs, Texas to Truman Breed and Allene Wilson Breed. He grew up on 1,400 acres of pastures and hills that his father bought in the early 1930’s near Dripping Springs and where they raised sheep and goats. It was a wonderful childhood as he and his younger brother and sister had a very large backyard to roam and play and where on hot days, they could cool off in Barton Creek, which ran through their property. He would walk to his first grade class at Bell Springs School, a one room structure located on his parent’s land off West Fitzhugh Road, where he and four other students were taught by one teacher.

Unfortunately when he was 8 years old, his father passed away from a brain tumor leaving his mother widowed with three young children. She was forced to move to Austin to support her family. But young Truman would make it back out to Dripping Springs as often as he could to stay with his grandparents in town and make his way out to the land that he would have a life long affection for. He was a very good athlete but as the “man of the house”, he had to work after school and could not participate in the sports that he loved so much. He had to grow up quickly.

Truman was a graduate of Austin High School and received a Business degree from The University of Texas. It was at the University where he met Ann Huffington, on a blind date, who became the love of his life. They were married in 1958 and made their home in Austin, where they raised 2 sons; William Jeffrey and Gregory Bennett. The foundation of their marriage was their deep and abiding friendship and their love and admiration for one another. He and Ann provided his two sons with a wonderful childhood that was filled with lots of activity: sports, neighborhood full of friends and weekend trips to the ranch where they were given the freedom to explore and work alongside their dad cutting cedars and building and mending fences. He was the head coach or assistant on almost every team both Jeff and Greg played on. He was a wonderful father to his two boys.

Truman’s list of accomplishments are many. He served in the Naval Reserve. His first job apart from steady work during childhood was at the Austin National Bank, where his mother worked as the secretary to the bank president. He became the youngest commercial loan officer in the bank’s history at the age of 28. In 1970 on a routine call to one of his bank customers, Hob Everett, he found out that he was planning on retiring and closing his small hardware store, Everett Hardware, located on Guadalupe Street. They worked out a deal to purchase the store right then and there and he went home that night and told Ann, “You’ll never guess what I did today” Together with Ann, and joined later by his two sons in the business, he grew that small hardware store into a very unique, upscale retail concept with two locations in Austin. The stores were a combination of three businesses: hardware, housewares and gifts, and lawn and garden and offered exceptional customer service. It’s no wonder that visitors to Austin would often have a tour list that included the University of Texas, LBJ Library, Barton Springs, and ... Breed & Co. Breed and Co was often referred to by many as an Austin institution.

Truman was a very active member of the community and gave back in many ways. He was a member of the Jaycees and Rotary Club. He served on many boards: Austin Trust Co, Handy Hardware Wholesale in Houston and Austin Country Club to name a few. He was a member of the Vestry of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepard. But mostly he gave back by helping individuals without anyone knowing. Countless people over the years have shared stories of things he did for them, financially and other, that he never shared. He didn’t do it for attention, he did it because it was the right thing to do.

He was a sportsman and looked forward to his regular Thursday golf game with his buddies at the Austin Country Club and hunting in the fall, though after a few years hunting with binoculars instead of a rifle. He loved snow skiing in Colorado with family and friends. Most notable to his family, he was a weekend warrior at the ranch. He ran through many a chainsaw fighting a losing battle with the cedar trees in the hill country. At family gatherings at the ranch, “Where’s Grandad” was often heard as he would disappear only to turn up on the tractor or bobcat. He found great peace spending time on the land that his father purchased all those years ago and that his mother had kept in the family for her kids and future generations to enjoy.

He suffered a tremendous loss with the death of his oldest son Jeff from a brain tumor in 2010. There are no words to describe the grief that he endured to lose a son that he loved, respected, admired and enjoyed being around so much. They were very much alike in many ways. Both men full of integrity, honesty, loyalty and kindness. Both true Texas gentlemen.

Truman was preceded in death by his parents, Truman and Allene Breed, his son William Jeffrey, his brother Ben, sister in law Ginny Harrell, brother in law Curtis Johnson and nephew Rusty Johnson.

Truman is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Ann Huffington Breed; son Greg Breed and his family, wife Brooke Stegall Breed and their children Stacie Dawn Breed Walker, her husband Stephen Curtis Walker and their son Curtis Shepherd Walker; and Truman Breed, III “Trey” along with his wife Caroline Barrett Hastings Breed. He is also survived by his daughter in law Barrie Donelson Breed and her and Jeff’s children, Brad Breed and his wife Dana and their son Mack; and Maggie Breed Ortuno, her husband Justin and their children Merritt and Oakley. He is also survived by his sister, Wanda Johnson and his sister in law, Janie Breed and many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks and appreciation to Truman’s main personal caregiver Oralia Ruedas. Also Esther “Rose” Herard and many others. Their care and love for him these past three years has been extraordinary.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The Settlement Home or Good Shepherd Church in loving memory of the life of Truman Breed, Jr.