Augustus Raford Brister
Augustus Raford Brister, a resident of Santa Fe, TX for 50 years, was born July 30, 1935 in Big Spring, TX to Rayford and Margaret Brister.
After graduating from Burbank High School in 1953, Raford enlisted in the United States Army and served his country for two years with an honorable discharge in 1956.
Brister had a distinguished career in civil service for over 34 years, starting as an electronics technician with Kelly Air Force Base, then spending 27 years with NASA where he was honored to have in participated in both, the International Space Station and Apollo programs.
Raford exemplified a truly compassionate philosophy of "give where you live" and demonstrated this on a daily basis in his beloved community of Santa Fe. He and Barbara, the love of his life for almost 50 years, were lifelong members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, and were very instrumental in the establishment of H.I.S. Ministries.
He devoted over 5,500 hours as a hospital volunteer with the Heart Exchange Support Group at CHI St. Luke's Hospital at the Texas Medical Center in Houston and was the 1995 Outstanding Volunteer for Life Gift. As a 26-yr heart transplant recipient himself, Raford understood the importance of educating others facing life changing medical decisions. He devoted 13 years as a member of the IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) at the Texas Heart Institute reviewing experimental protocols on new and innovative research while ensuring ethical treatment of animals.
He was a 32nd degree Master Mason with the Alvin Masonic Lodge No. 762 A.F. & A.M. Raford was a certified Master Gardener and volunteered for a number of years with the Galveston County Master Gardeners Program, and a long-term member of the Santa Fe Senior Citizens where he treasured competitive dominoes, canasta and the quick wit of his wonderful friends. Raford was well-known by all who knew him as one who was quick to draw up a diagram on the back of an envelope, roll up his sleeves, and get to work. Raford touched the lives of so many and will be greatly missed.
Mr. Brister is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Z. (Johnson) Brister; parents; sister, Kira Margaret Carr and brother Richard Carroll Brister.
Mr. Brister leaves behind his daughter, Tracy L. Brister; sons: Augustus Ray Brister and wife Naihui Jian, Richard Carroll Brister and wife Tamara, Toby Miles Brister, Louis Eugene Hardy and wife Ann, Dale Lee Hardy and wife Suesie, Barry Dean Hardy and wife Pat, and Craig William Hardy and wife June; along with 21 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren as well as one great-great-grandchild.
An informal graveside gathering will be held at Port Bolivar Cemetery on Saturday April 8th at 3:00 pm. A celebration of life service will be scheduled at a later date where friends and family can gather to share their favorite memories. Those who wish may make memorials in the form of donations to the Alzheimer's Association, 2422 West Holcomb Blvd, Houston TX 77030.
Apr 6 2017
Galveston Daily News
Augustus Raford Brister, a resident of Santa Fe, TX for 50 years, was born July 30, 1935 in Big Spring, TX to Rayford and Margaret Brister.
After graduating from Burbank High School in 1953, Raford enlisted in the United States Army and served his country for two years with an honorable discharge in 1956.
Brister had a distinguished career in civil service for over 34 years, starting as an electronics technician with Kelly Air Force Base, then spending 27 years with NASA where he was honored to have in participated in both, the International Space Station and Apollo programs.
Raford exemplified a truly compassionate philosophy of "give where you live" and demonstrated this on a daily basis in his beloved community of Santa Fe. He and Barbara, the love of his life for almost 50 years, were lifelong members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, and were very instrumental in the establishment of H.I.S. Ministries.
He devoted over 5,500 hours as a hospital volunteer with the Heart Exchange Support Group at CHI St. Luke's Hospital at the Texas Medical Center in Houston and was the 1995 Outstanding Volunteer for Life Gift. As a 26-yr heart transplant recipient himself, Raford understood the importance of educating others facing life changing medical decisions. He devoted 13 years as a member of the IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) at the Texas Heart Institute reviewing experimental protocols on new and innovative research while ensuring ethical treatment of animals.
He was a 32nd degree Master Mason with the Alvin Masonic Lodge No. 762 A.F. & A.M. Raford was a certified Master Gardener and volunteered for a number of years with the Galveston County Master Gardeners Program, and a long-term member of the Santa Fe Senior Citizens where he treasured competitive dominoes, canasta and the quick wit of his wonderful friends. Raford was well-known by all who knew him as one who was quick to draw up a diagram on the back of an envelope, roll up his sleeves, and get to work. Raford touched the lives of so many and will be greatly missed.
Mr. Brister is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Z. (Johnson) Brister; parents; sister, Kira Margaret Carr and brother Richard Carroll Brister.
Mr. Brister leaves behind his daughter, Tracy L. Brister; sons: Augustus Ray Brister and wife Naihui Jian, Richard Carroll Brister and wife Tamara, Toby Miles Brister, Louis Eugene Hardy and wife Ann, Dale Lee Hardy and wife Suesie, Barry Dean Hardy and wife Pat, and Craig William Hardy and wife June; along with 21 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren as well as one great-great-grandchild.
An informal graveside gathering will be held at Port Bolivar Cemetery on Saturday April 8th at 3:00 pm. A celebration of life service will be scheduled at a later date where friends and family can gather to share their favorite memories. Those who wish may make memorials in the form of donations to the Alzheimer's Association, 2422 West Holcomb Blvd, Houston TX 77030.
Apr 6 2017
Galveston Daily News
Augustus Raford Brister
Augustus Raford Brister, a resident of Santa Fe, TX for 50 years, was born July 30, 1935 in Big Spring, TX to Rayford and Margaret Brister.
After graduating from Burbank High School in 1953, Raford enlisted in the United States Army and served his country for two years with an honorable discharge in 1956.
Brister had a distinguished career in civil service for over 34 years, starting as an electronics technician with Kelly Air Force Base, then spending 27 years with NASA where he was honored to have in participated in both, the International Space Station and Apollo programs.
Raford exemplified a truly compassionate philosophy of "give where you live" and demonstrated this on a daily basis in his beloved community of Santa Fe. He and Barbara, the love of his life for almost 50 years, were lifelong members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, and were very instrumental in the establishment of H.I.S. Ministries.
He devoted over 5,500 hours as a hospital volunteer with the Heart Exchange Support Group at CHI St. Luke's Hospital at the Texas Medical Center in Houston and was the 1995 Outstanding Volunteer for Life Gift. As a 26-yr heart transplant recipient himself, Raford understood the importance of educating others facing life changing medical decisions. He devoted 13 years as a member of the IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) at the Texas Heart Institute reviewing experimental protocols on new and innovative research while ensuring ethical treatment of animals.
He was a 32nd degree Master Mason with the Alvin Masonic Lodge No. 762 A.F. & A.M. Raford was a certified Master Gardener and volunteered for a number of years with the Galveston County Master Gardeners Program, and a long-term member of the Santa Fe Senior Citizens where he treasured competitive dominoes, canasta and the quick wit of his wonderful friends. Raford was well-known by all who knew him as one who was quick to draw up a diagram on the back of an envelope, roll up his sleeves, and get to work. Raford touched the lives of so many and will be greatly missed.
Mr. Brister is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Z. (Johnson) Brister; parents; sister, Kira Margaret Carr and brother Richard Carroll Brister.
Mr. Brister leaves behind his daughter, Tracy L. Brister; sons: Augustus Ray Brister and wife Naihui Jian, Richard Carroll Brister and wife Tamara, Toby Miles Brister, Louis Eugene Hardy and wife Ann, Dale Lee Hardy and wife Suesie, Barry Dean Hardy and wife Pat, and Craig William Hardy and wife June; along with 21 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren as well as one great-great-grandchild.
An informal graveside gathering will be held at Port Bolivar Cemetery on Saturday April 8th at 3:00 pm. A celebration of life service will be scheduled at a later date where friends and family can gather to share their favorite memories. Those who wish may make memorials in the form of donations to the Alzheimer's Association, 2422 West Holcomb Blvd, Houston TX 77030.
Apr 6 2017
Galveston Daily News
Augustus Raford Brister, a resident of Santa Fe, TX for 50 years, was born July 30, 1935 in Big Spring, TX to Rayford and Margaret Brister.
After graduating from Burbank High School in 1953, Raford enlisted in the United States Army and served his country for two years with an honorable discharge in 1956.
Brister had a distinguished career in civil service for over 34 years, starting as an electronics technician with Kelly Air Force Base, then spending 27 years with NASA where he was honored to have in participated in both, the International Space Station and Apollo programs.
Raford exemplified a truly compassionate philosophy of "give where you live" and demonstrated this on a daily basis in his beloved community of Santa Fe. He and Barbara, the love of his life for almost 50 years, were lifelong members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, and were very instrumental in the establishment of H.I.S. Ministries.
He devoted over 5,500 hours as a hospital volunteer with the Heart Exchange Support Group at CHI St. Luke's Hospital at the Texas Medical Center in Houston and was the 1995 Outstanding Volunteer for Life Gift. As a 26-yr heart transplant recipient himself, Raford understood the importance of educating others facing life changing medical decisions. He devoted 13 years as a member of the IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) at the Texas Heart Institute reviewing experimental protocols on new and innovative research while ensuring ethical treatment of animals.
He was a 32nd degree Master Mason with the Alvin Masonic Lodge No. 762 A.F. & A.M. Raford was a certified Master Gardener and volunteered for a number of years with the Galveston County Master Gardeners Program, and a long-term member of the Santa Fe Senior Citizens where he treasured competitive dominoes, canasta and the quick wit of his wonderful friends. Raford was well-known by all who knew him as one who was quick to draw up a diagram on the back of an envelope, roll up his sleeves, and get to work. Raford touched the lives of so many and will be greatly missed.
Mr. Brister is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Z. (Johnson) Brister; parents; sister, Kira Margaret Carr and brother Richard Carroll Brister.
Mr. Brister leaves behind his daughter, Tracy L. Brister; sons: Augustus Ray Brister and wife Naihui Jian, Richard Carroll Brister and wife Tamara, Toby Miles Brister, Louis Eugene Hardy and wife Ann, Dale Lee Hardy and wife Suesie, Barry Dean Hardy and wife Pat, and Craig William Hardy and wife June; along with 21 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren as well as one great-great-grandchild.
An informal graveside gathering will be held at Port Bolivar Cemetery on Saturday April 8th at 3:00 pm. A celebration of life service will be scheduled at a later date where friends and family can gather to share their favorite memories. Those who wish may make memorials in the form of donations to the Alzheimer's Association, 2422 West Holcomb Blvd, Houston TX 77030.
Apr 6 2017
Galveston Daily News
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