BRAYFIELD, Franklin E. (Gene) age 87 passed away on May 3, 2017 at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. He was born in Dayton, Ohio on May 24, 1929 to the late James Brayfield and Anna (Riddle) Brayfield. Frank was employed at Frigidaire (GM) for 30 years and then retired full time to the farming profession he loved. Frank was a “jack of all trades” and over his lifetime he built/remodeled houses, overhauled cars/tractors, raised farm animals, and would try fixing just about anything.
Frank was a wonderful father to his daughters Debby Brayfield of Greenville and Susan (Brayfield) Brown of Convoy Ohio. In addition to his children, Frank is survived by his son-in-law Steve Brown and the grandchildren he loved; Greg Brown of Greenville, Sandy (Chazz) Roger of Convoy OH, great grandchildren, Alena Brown, Brinley Roger and Camden Roger. He is survived by his other siblings Gladys Beam of Huber Heights, Maxine Merz of Tipp City and John (Betty) Brayfield of Xenia, in addition to many nieces and nephews that loved listening to his stories and going to Uncle Gene’s farm.
Along with his wife of over 50 years, Jean (Purtee) Brayfield, he was preceded in death by his father and mother, siblings Paul Brayfield, Dale Brayfield and Mildred Jay.
To celebrate his life, services will be held on Tuesday May 9 at 10:30 am at the Zechar Bailey Funeral Home, 1499 N. Broadway, Greenville, OH with visitation at the funeral home on Monday May 8 at 6 – 8 pm.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Huber Heights Church of God, Young at Heart Seniors or Children’s Ministries at 6900 Brandt Pike, Huber Heights, OH 45424 or the Wounded Warrior Project.
MEMORIAL FOR FRANKLIN BRAYFIELD
Gene Brayfield – what can we say about him? Dad was many things, but he was a farmer at heart. He started working on a farm at a young age working for neighbors; by working ground and putting up hay. This is when that passion for farming started.
As he grew into a young man his life changed - he moved to Dayton, married and had children. He was a person that was not afraid of hard work and would try just about any kind of project; he began building a house at age 22. He didn’t really know about building a house, but jumped into the project and finished
the house after work each day and on weekends within a few years. The house is still standing and looks very much like it did when he built it over 50 years ago.
His dream of farming began to take hold again; he bought a 10 acre farm and raised cattle, chickens, and crops. But this dream needed to grow again. In 1968 he bought a 55 acre farm that had all the things he dreamed of; pasture for cows, a rolling stream, land for crops and a farmhouse for him and his wife Jean to remodel and make it their own. He retired from GM after working 30 long years and became the full time farmer he dreamed about. Together he and Mom worked and loved the farm for over 48 years.
But being a farmer means you are a builder, an electrician, a plumber, a painter, a mechanic and even a veterinarian . He was all of these things and much more every day on the farm. He loved to teach others and to create that love of farming in them also.
He was also the storyteller of our family. He could easily be encouraged to talk and tell the tales about his family, the old days growing up and also share the journey of “when I was young”. I have heard these stories over and over again all my life, and one of my favorite stories:
(In his words) he was going up through the woods - I don’t remember where we were going, but it was in the fall of the year, there was brush and leaves all over the ground. There was kind of a trail through the woods, me and Grandpa Riddle and Dad was walking, I was about twelve years old. Grandpa and Dad was in front, they were talking, I was following them. I felt something run up my britches leg, I SCREAMED, I thought it was a mouse or something. I hollered at Dad and I caught it with my hand right on my thigh. I hollered at Dad, “Something run up by britches leg.” Dad said, “It’s probably a lizard, just let it loose.” I said, “I’m not about to let it loose!”
By that time I was trying to get it out, I looked and Grandpa and Dad were bent over on the ground and laughing. I still have never see anyone laugh as hard as Grandpa did. I still had a hold of it, and I was trying to unhook my bib overalls, so I could get them off. I finally got them off, and jumped out of them. When I got them off, I turned them inside out and looked at it, there wasn’t any danger of it hurting anybody; I had mashed its guts out. The lizard was about 5 inches long.
His stories like these will live in all our memories. We will miss him; his smile and laugh, his stories, his teaching and his counsel. He worked hard every day to make a life for his family.
STORIES from others attending:
Dave First talked about when Dad was using the tractor post hole digger and it caught the edge of his bibs and ripped them right off him. He had to walk home from the woods with only a small part of his bibs on.
Brad Brayfield spoke about all the things he learned from Dad; about farming, working on cars/truck, and how to fix things. He said Dad was like a second father to him.
Tim Bang told the story of when dad was using the backhoe and as he moved it around (without paying enough attention) he tore the door off his dump truck that was sitting beside it.
Greg Brayfield talked about how dogs and animals loved him. Once when he was visiting Greg and Josie, he sat on the sofa and Greg's two dogs jumped up on both sides of Dad and sat with him for a long time. They all posed for their picture together.
Jim Merz shared his memories that as a teenager he and Dwayne Beam used to spend time at the farm in the summers baling hay and then going to the Dairy Queen every night for treats.
Bob Leis told the story of long ago when Bob was about 13 and they all attended a Brayfield Reunion. Dad drove a Ford coupe with a V8 motor and Bob fell in love with it. Bob said his fingerprints were over every square inch of that car and he even ate his lunch in it. When they were ready to leave Bob told Dad to be careful driving it, because someday he was going to buy that car from Dad. Driving it home that weekend Dad was involved in a wreck and the car was totaled. Bob was angry for a long time when his dream of that special car was destroyed that day!
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