Donald J. Brakebill

1947 - 2025

DONALD J BRAKEBILL

1947 – 2025

Don was so much more than my husband. He was my boyfriend, my lover, my best friend, my travel companion, my running buddy, my workout partner, my business partner, my happiness sharer, my sadness comforter, and my dream maker.

Don was born in Bakersfield, CA, to Ruby and Vester Brakebill, and lived here all his life. He attended local schools: Beardsley School, North High school, Bakersfield College. In his early work life he was a machinist at General Engineering Co., then worked as branch manager of Process Equipment Co.

He retired the first time in 1985 and we traveled the south Pacific for a few months, then came home and traveled the United States in our travel trailer for a few months. Then we had to go back to work. We went into the jewelry business and enjoyed that for 25 years as Carriage Fine Jewelry on F Street in Bakersfield.

After retiring from jewelry making he started new fun hobbies. If you were lucky enough to have known him you may have one of his hand-painted lighted bottles or vases, or maybe one of his special painted rocks. He loved making people happy.

Don was predeceased by both parents and all six of his brothers and sisters. He is survived by his wife Sharon, sister-in-law Ashley Ashmore, brother-in-law Michael Ashmore, sister-in-law Linda Ashmore, cousins Pat and Sharon and Marilyn, and many special nieces and nephews.

As he requested, no services will be held. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,

My working week and my Sunday rest,

My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song:

I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

W H Auden

www.bakersfield.com/obits