John Elmer Brazil, 84 retired Army Aviator, passed away on March 13, 2010. John was born in Hobart, Oklahoma on March 1, 1926, to James Lee and Blanch Brazil. He was known as Elmer to family and childhood friends. He enlisted in the US Navy during WWII. After the war he tried his hand at farming but decided to join the Army where he completed 30 years of service. During his service career Elmer was a Drill Instructor, Tank Commander and was part of the last Helicopter Class to graduate from Fort Sill. His career took him places from Churchill, Canada to the Antarctic and from the Panama Canal Zone to Viet Nam to Iran and numerous other places. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross among his many other accomplishments. Upon retiring from the Army, he still remained a pilot and flew for the State of Oklahoma which included becoming Governor George Nigh’s pilot. He is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years Mary “Joyce” Brazil, his mother and father, brothers James and Everett and sisters Dorothy and Leta. He is survived by son John of Tulsa, son Tom and wife Young of California, daughter Janice of Stillwater, granddaughters Cathrine of New York and Patricia of California, brother Roy and Wife Julia of Texas and sister Mary of Washington State, sister-in-law Cathrine of Hobart, numerous nieces and nephews and other family members. John Elmer will be deeply missed by all who knew him. The service will be held at Bill Merritt Funeral Services in Bethany, on Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Military Interment to follow at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery.
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