Cloyce Larue Bragg's Obituary
In Loving Memory of Cloyce Larue Bragg
Cloyce Larue Bragg was born on January 4, 1933, in a small country house near Gainesville, Texas. On December 6, 2025, he peacefully went home to be with his Heavenly Father. Cloyce was the oldest of three children and was preceded in death by his beloved sister, Marieta Jewel Locke, and his brother, Frankie. He was raised by his parents, Ernest Frank Bragg, a hardworking door-to-door milkman, and Ivy Bragg, who supported the family as a seamstress during World War II.
Cloyce grew up in Gainesville, where he learned early the values of faith, responsibility, and perseverance. In high school, he played the trumpet in the band, a reflection of both his discipline and his love of learning. After graduating from Gainesville High School, Cloyce proudly enlisted in the United States Air Force, beginning his career as a B-29 mechanic. That same year, he married the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Jean Marion Bragg.
Their marriage began a life of adventure and service. Soon after their wedding, Cloyce and Jean moved to Okinawa, followed by many years of relocations that took them to Hawaii, Oregon, Colorado Springs, Wyoming, and Fort Collins, Colorado. It was in Fort Collins that Cloyce achieved a milestone he was especially proud of—becoming the first Bragg to graduate from college, earning a degree in Computer Science from Colorado State University.
Cloyce dedicated 21 years to serving his country. This included a stint in Korea, ten years in the Minuteman Missile Program, before retiring from the Air Force as a Captain in Abilene, Texas. His sense of duty, calm leadership, and steady character defined both his military service and his life.
Together, Cloyce and Jean raised three children: Karen Ann McMurry, David Wayne Bragg, and Jeffrey Mark Bragg. Their family continued to grow, blessing them with seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, each of whom held a special place in his heart.
Cloyce was known as an easygoing, levelheaded man who deeply loved the outdoors. Family vacations and weekends were often spent camping in the mountains or by the lake, creating memories that will be cherished for generations. He had a lifelong interest in firearms, enjoying both their history and mechanics. A skilled marksman, he competed on the Air Force target team and took pride in rebuilding and converting a British .308 rifle into a .30-06, which he later used for hunting deer and antelope.
He also enjoyed bowling, maintaining an impressive 220 average, and achieving a high score of 277. Ever the problem-solver, Cloyce was a gifted mechanic who somehow managed to keep family cars running far longer than anyone thought possible.
In 2004, Cloyce suffered a profound loss with the passing of Jean, his wife of 52 years. Though his heart was broken; God was not finished with his story. In time, Cloyce found love again and married Mary Garrett. Through Mary, he gained not only a devoted partner but also a family who welcomed him wholeheartedly and came to love him as their own.
Above all else, Cloyce was a faithful Christian, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a steady presence for his family. He preferred the comfort of home over being out with friends, choosing instead to spend his time with those he loved most. His life was a quiet testimony of consistency, Kindness and faith.
It is easy to imagine dad now in Heaven—surrounded by family, at peace, perhaps with a Louis L’Amour novel in hand—content, calm, and finally home.
The family requests in lieu of flowers, please consider a similar donation to Dementia Society of America - https://www.DementiaSociety.org/donate.
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