He was a United States Navy Veteran of World War II. He was a stand-out basketball player in high school and continued his basketball playing in the Navy while stationed in North Africa. Upon discharge from the Navy he continued playing basketball after enrolling at Central Missouri State University.In 1949, his senior year, he was named an ALL MIAA player.
He began his teaching and coaching career at Warsaw High School in 1950. In 1956 the family moved to Sedalia where he taught and coached at Horace Mann Elementary School until his transfer to Smith-Cotton High School as a Guidance Counselor. He worked at Smith-Cotton until retirement in 1988.
He enjoyed fishing and hunting. He held the Missouri State record for Rainbow Trout from 1960 until 1971 with a 13 lbs. 12oz. Trout caught at Bennett Springs, Missouri. Every summer, from 1953 until 1973, the family went to Vermillion Bay, Ontario, Canada to assist operating a fishing camp and worked as a fishing guide.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Sue Gelbach, of the home; three sons, Fred Branson and his wife Sally Lockett, of Sedalia, Tom Branson, of Grass Valley, Calif. , and Michael Branson, of Sedalia; a daughter, Dana Branson and her husband LeRoy Nickerson, of Hood River, Oregon; Five grandsons, Frederick George Branson, Thomas Michael Branson, Taylor Reed Branson, Trenton Thomas Branson and Brandon Kelley. He was preceded in death by a sister, Chloe Hults.
A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 17, 2008 in the Parkhurst Commons of State Fair Community College.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to State Fair Community College Athletic Department or the Mens’’ Basketball Department at University of Central Missouri or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of Heckart Funeral Home and Cremation Service.
Condolences may be sent online at www.heckartfuneralhome.com
Homer Nelson "Chuck" Branson, 81, of Sedalia, died Tuesday, April 22, 2008, at Bothwell Regional Health Center.
He was born May 23, 1926, in Bland, Missouri, a son of Forrest and Sophie Branson. On May 27, 1948, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa, he married Evelyn Sue Gelbach.
