Donald "Don" Ray Brantley

Don Brantley was born in Denver, Colorado to Benjamin and Vila Brantley. He grew up in Denver and attended Beth Eden Baptist Church, which was where he met his Savior, Jesus Christ, and also his teenage sweetheart, Carol. Don and Carol’s eyes first met while he was up in the choir, and she was sitting in one of the front pews. They went out for Cokes that night with friends, and began dating a week later. They had just turned 17 and 18 when they married in 1953 and loved each other even more after 70 years of marriage. They raised four children together and also took in four foster children from the Dixon family for a time, and instilled in all of them a love for the Lord and a love for family.

Don began working full time at age 14, and found his lifelong career in 1971, when he began selling BG Products in Denver. In 1982, he moved to Grand Junction, Colorado to take over the western Colorado and southern Utah territory. He purchased the territory in 1988 and founded Brantley Distributing, which he turned over to his sons and grandsons when he retired.

Don’s favorite pastime was spending time with Carol and their kids and grandkids. He also loved fishing, golfing, reading the Bible and Louis L’Amour novels, watching John Wayne movies and the Denver Broncos, and praying for and helping people in need. Everyone that knew him for very long knew that he was a generous and caring man with a big heart and a ready smile. His favorite Bible passage was Psalm 91.

Don left a heritage of faith and love for his Lord, and an example of what a lifelong loving marriage can look like. His family looks forward to being reunited with him in Heaven. He was preceded in death by his siblings and his son Brian, and is survived by his wife Carol, their children, Stan (Anya), daughter-in-law Cindy, Michelle (Dan), and Jeff (Robin); their grandchildren, David (Lauren), Rose, Nathan (Ashlyn), Benjamin, Jeremy (Leesha), Joshua (Emily), Philip (Carissa), Laura, Sara, Breanna, Jonathan, Larissa, Michaela, and Caleb; and nine great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Don's life will be held in the chapel at Canyon View Vineyard Church on Monday, July 17, at 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Don’s memory can be given to Samaritan’s Purse at www.samaritanspurse.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.callahan-edfast.com for the Brantley family.