Christine Braren Searcy

CHRISTINE MARIE BRAREN SEARCY passed away peacefully on December 11, 2021 at her home. She was born August 31, 1922, in Jacksonville, Florida to Inge Roeloffs Braren and Bernhard Karl Braren. Both parents emigrated from the island of Fohr in the North Sea off the coast of Denmark and North Germany. She was the second of five children and the only daughter.

Christine graduated from Lee High School in 1939 and left for Newberry College, where she majored in mathematics. In her second year at Newberry, at the start of WWII, she was recruited by Curtiss Wright Aviation, who chose the top 100 female math students in the nation to train in aeronautical engineering (all of the male engineering students had gone to war).

She received a full scholarship to Cornell University and received a degree in aeronautical engineering and applied mathematics. After graduation, she worked for Curtiss Wright in Buffalo,NY, and St Louis, MO. In August, 1944, her younger brother, Christian Dietrich Braren, was killed in the line of duty, and Christine moved back to Jacksonville to support her parents.

She found employment at the Jacksonville shipyards and began a career in marine engineering. She met Henry Martin Searcy in Atlantic Beach, who had just returned from service with the Army Infantry in the South Pacific and was in Officer Training School at Camp Blanding. They were wed on September 23, 1945, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jacksonville. She had her first of six children July 12, 1946, and dedicated the rest of her life to raising her family.

Christine and Hank moved to DeLand, where he attended and graduated from Stetson University Law School. Upon his graduation, they moved back to Jacksonville, where Hank practiced law for 51 years and they raised six children together. After the tragic loss of their son, Henry Faulk Searcy in June, 1960, the family moved to Ponte Vedra Beach, where Christine lived the rest of her life.

Christine enjoyed singing in the choir at St Andrews Lutheran Church, and playing tennis and bridge with all her buddies. She was a member of the Ponte Vedra Ladies doubles team, and she enjoyed swimming in the ocean almost every day in the warm season. She was an excellent cook and had dinner ready every night at six o'clock. She also had all her children at Sunday School and church every week without fail. Christine was a lady of great, unwavering faith, and she was independent and resilient.

Christine was predeceased by Hank and her son, Henry Faulk Searcy, daughter-in-law, Priscilla Gulliford Searcy, and two grandsons, Alex Searcy, and Matt Searcy. She is survived by five children and their spouses: Inge Baker (Scott) Jacksonville , Chris Searcy (Michelle) North Palm Beach, Eric Searcy (Debbie) St Augustine, Helen Holmberg (Eric) Jacksonville, and Blaine Searcy (Adele) Destin.

She is survived by 14 grandchildren, Ed Baker(Sarah)Cambridge MA, Chris Baker (Lindsey) Cambridge MA, Henry Faulk Searcy II North Palm Beach, Christian Searcy (Debbie) North Palm Beach, Angela Coriell (Aaron) North Palm Beach, Will Searcy (Amber) North Palm Beach, Andrea Radbill (Kevin) Winter Park, FL, Heike Slinin (Alex) Norcross, GA, Chris Holmberg Orlando, Blaine Holmberg North Palm Beach, Sean Holmberg Jacksonville, Iain Searcy (Alethea) St Augustine, Louis Searcy (Lucy) Gainesville, and Kyle Searcy St Augustine.

She is also survived by 25 great grandchildren: Olivia, Charlotte, Thomas and Bennett Baker, Christian, Lindalee and Grant Baker, Elizabeth and Alex Searcy, Cosette and Aleia Corielle, Christian Dietrich III, Bennett, and Luke Searcy, Coco Searcy and Autumn Smith, Evan and Eliana Slinin, Spike, Ryker, Xander and Susie Holmberg, Aleph Anderson, Orion Searcy and Leo Searcy.

Christine is beloved by her neices and nephews, scores of her childrens' friends, and many wonderful friends and neighbors. We thank all of you for your help, love and friendship you have given to Christine over the years.

We extend a special thank you and love to Rose Tilley and Evelyn Hall, her two caretakers for more than six years. We thank you both for all of the excellent care, love and friendship you have given to her.

We thank God that we had such a great mother, and that we had her for over 99 years!

The family will have a visitation and viewing on Sunday, December 19, 6-8pm, at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 1701 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach. A funeral service will be held at 11am on Monday, December 20, 2021, at St Andrews Lutheran Church, 1801 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery, 4801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville. There will be a celebration of life reception immediately following the graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to St Andrews Lutheran Church by-the-sea, 1801 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250.