Eugene Brashear

Lexington - Eugene Brashear 95, Col. Eugene Brashear, USAF, Retired, 95 years old, passed away peacefully at home on March 15, 2025, in Lexington, Kentucky, surrounded by family and friends. Eugene was born in Hazard, Kentucky to the late G.D. and Eva Ross Brashear on March 10, 1930. He survived his beloved wife of 65 years, Blanca Irene Alejandro Brashear, PhD, his older brother Leon Brashear, his sister-in-law Lois Johnson Brashear, and his brother-in-law C.M. Kim, MD.

Eugene was the first baby born at the "new" Hurst Snyder Hospital, located at the corner of Lovern and High Street, in Hazard. He graduated from Hazard High School, where he was a member of the Band, Glee Club, received All-State Chorus honors, and was valedictorian of the Class of 1948. He received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, but attended the University of Kentucky, graduating in 1952 with a BS in Mining Engineering. He was a member of the Air Force ROTC, and after graduating from college, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the USAF.

During his military career in the Air Force, he was stationed in Spokane, Washington, Sacramento, California, and then at Ramey Air Force Base in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, where he met his wife. He served as Flight Engineer on the B36 Peacemaker, the largest airplane in military history. He was discharged from active duty in 1959 and served in the USAF Reserves until his retirement from the military in 1982, achieving the rank of Colonel.

When his active-duty military career ended, he returned to Hazard to work in the family business, Brashear Flower Shop and Greenhouses Inc. In 1976, he joined Virginia Iron, Coal and Coke (VICC) where he had a successful nineteen-year career managing mining operations in Virginia and Kentucky.

Upon his retirement in 1990, he and his wife relocated to Lexington, Kentucky, where he became a devoted member of Calvary Baptist Church. Eugene made his profession of faith at an early age and was later a Deacon at Petrey Memorial Baptist Church in Hazard, of which his parents were charter members. He was a firm believer in the power and authority of Scripture. He honored that by the way he lived, as a fully devoted follower of Christ.

He shared his gifts and his service freely and in the interest of many others. At Calvary Baptist, he served as a Deacon and was a member of the Keystone Sunday School class and the Thursday Morning Men's Bible Study. He volunteered on the Food Service committee and Meals on Wheels. While living in Brownsville, Texas from 2007 to 2015, he and his wife attended the Church of the Advent, Episcopal, where he was a member of the Vestry Board.

Eugene, known affectionately as Popsie, was a role model for his family, demonstrating humility, generosity, kindness, and humor. He will be missed dearly. He is survived by his two children, Deanna Jean Brashear Katko (Nick), and Thomas George Brashear, PhD; four grandchildren, Alycia Allen Yowell-Many (Derrick Many), Ritchie Alejandro Katko (Molly), Justin Nathaniel Katko (Lucy), and Daniel Alejandro Brashear (Rebecca); three great-grandchildren, Zaida Lu Katko, Noah Leland Katko, and Asa Huw Alejandro Katko; a sister-in-law, Doris Alejandro Kim; nieces and nephews Eva Gail Brashear Felix (Russell), Samuel Richard Brashear, Robert Leon Brashear (Susan), Brian Kim, Warren Kim (Sharon Bing), Leslie Kim, Emily Salansky (Nick), and Jennifer Frederick Lovely (Ross); cousins Nathaniel Quisenberry, Alois McIntyre Moore (Bill), Gail Brashear Combs (Ralph), Sandra Quisenberry Bond, David Quisenberry, Brenda Brashear Nease Bersaglia (Anthony), and Deborah Brashear Fugate.

The family would like to give heartfelt thanks to Eugene's caregiving team from the VA Home-Based Primary Care, Home Instead, Inc. and Bluegrass Care Navigators.

Honorary pall-bearers are members of the Calvary Baptist Church Keystone Sunday School class, members of the Calvary Baptist Church Thursday Men's Bible Study group, Jack Campbell, Mahmoud Elbarasi, Mike Garcia, Carol Anne Kilgore, Daniel Mongiardo, MD, Paul Petrey, Glen Phillips, Alfred Rawls, Mike Reynolds, and Leslie Rion.

Visitation will be on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 1pm, followed by service at 2pm, Milward's, 159 North Broadway, Lexington, KY 40507. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 150 East High Street, Lexington, KY 40507.