Raymond Brackney's Obituary
Raymond Brackney, 74, of Columbia, MO, passed away on Saturday, July 9, 2022, at Boone Hospital Center.
Raymond LeRoy Brackney, 74, of Madison, Mo. went to his heavenly home on Saturday, July 9, 2022, at Boone Hospital, with his family at bedside.
Raymond was born on August 16, 1947 in Kirksville, Mo. to Paul Raymond and Julia Cleon (Fleshman) Brackney. He graduated with the class of 1965 from Kirksville Senior High. His first job was as a paper carrier for the Kirksville Daily Express. During his last year of high school, he was employed for the Travelers Hotel as a bell hop and promoted to desk clerk. Raymond was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Kirksville and baptized at age 11.
January 1967, Raymond began his 34-year employment with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, now (Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad). He was working at the McCook, Ill. Station where he met his wife, Linda Kay Beliel. They were married on June 1, 1968, at the Kirksville First Baptist Church, by Rev Ralph M.G. Smith.
While in Illinois Raymond became a Shriner and in 1973, he was initiated as a Mason in Oak lawn, Ill. and transferred to the LaGrange Lodge 770 in Justice, Illinois.
At the time of ATSF-BN merger, Raymond and Linda relocated to Topeka, Kansas until their retirement in 2003. Raymond accomplished the 32nd degree in the Masons in 1998, in Topeka.
Upon retirement they moved to Brookfield, Mo. to be close to Linda's parents.
Raymond is survived by a sister, Paulette (Roy) Martel, nephews David Goring, Brian (Laura) Goring, Chris Martel, Mike (Danielle) Martel, nieces Jessica (Jaime) Guyton and Lisa (Cody) Salter
Sisters-in-law Vicki (Roy) Phillips, Brenda Beliel, and Teena (Michael) Carone. Several cousins and great nieces and nephews.
Preceding in death are is wife Linda Kay in 2015, his parents, parents-in-law Ralph and Geraldine Beliel, brother-in-law William Beliel and nephew Edward Jason Wellman.
Raymond had a great love of trains, whether reading about them, watching them on YouTube or traveling to the closest train track to watch them fly by. He loved to read, collect books, newspapers and magazines. Raymond was always working in a word search book. Loved watching sports, wheel of fortune, family feud and NCIS on TV.
Since September 2020, Raymond had made his home with his sister and Roy. He liked to travel, seeing places that were new to him and going to different restaurants. He loved his cats and our Max and TJ. He had reconnected with many family and friends thanks to Facebook. He was always smiling and never complaining, even on his worst day. He will be greatly missed.
His request was cremation and graveside services planned at Park View Memorial Gardens in Kirksville, Mo. at a later date.
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