January 27, 1924 –  November 12, 2007  WHITESBORO – Boyce Brannan was born on January 27, 1924 in Wills Point, Texas and graduated to Glory on November 12, 2007 in Whitesboro, Texas at the age of 83 years, 9 months and 16 days. He was the son of Jess and Ada Brannan. His father was mayor and justice-of-the-peace of Edgewood, Texas. His mother was a school teacher and church organist.
He was â??savedâ? as a young boy while attending a brush arbor meeting. Jesus Christ became the center of his life and the leader he followed. Many people received Christ as their Lord and Savior as a result of his preaching, teaching and fervent soul-winning efforts.

After graduating from Grand Saline High School in Grand Saline, Texas Boyce attended Draughnâ??s Business College in Fort Worth. He pursued a career in printing as a linotype operator working for the â??Grand Saline Sun,â? the Quinn Printing Company, The Fort Worth Press and was the printer for the First Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas.

He married his beautiful bride Viva Lee on July 8, 1943. Together they built a Christian home for their sons, Sid, Steve, Ted and Tim. God blessed their union with sixty-two years here on earth and an eternity in Heaven.

Married only a few months, Boyce joined the United States Navy. He served during World War II as a â??Fighting Seabee.â? His primary duty was as a bulldozer operator. On one beach landing in the Pacific Theatre he drove ashore with his dozer blade raised deflecting the bullets of the enemy. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class Metalsmith and was awarded â??The Bronze Star.â?

He surrendered to preach in the early 1950s and served as an associate pastor in Fort Worth on the staffs of The First Baptist Church and The Castleberry Baptist Church. He was the pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Andrews, Texas, Denton Baptist Temple in Denton, Texas and Plymouth Baptist Temple in Plymouth, Minnesota. He served more than 50 years in the ministry. In later years he was the owner of the Capital Stewardship Development Company raising money for Churches across the United States.

He was preceded in death by his wife Viva Lee, his son Tim, his mother and father and his sister Christine. He is survived by his sisters Louise and Sally and his brother Gene.

His living legacy can be seen in his sons and their wives and families: Sid and Jane Brannan and their sons Terry, Jeff and Brian; Steve and Linda Brannan and their son Steve; and Ted and Karen Brannan and their children Kari, Kevin, April and Amber. He has eleven great grandchildren.

He was a sailor, a printer, and a preacher, but his greatest claim-to-fame was as a husband, father, grand-father, great grandfather and friend. To Viva Lee and his friends he was Boyce. To his sons and daughter-in-laws he was â??Dad.â? To the rest of his family he was â??Papa.â? This is how he will be fondly remembered!

Funeral services will be held at Meador Funeral Home in Whitesboro, Texas on Saturday morning, November 17 at 10:00 a.m. Family visitation will be from 7 to 8 P.M., Friday, November 16, 2007 at the funeral home. The family will travel to Sand Flat cemetery in Grand Saline for the interment.