Inez "Arlene" Bratt

Inez Arlene Bratt BRATT, Inez Arlene Casey, 92, passed away in her sleep on September 3, 2015. Mrs. Bratt was born on March 9, 1923, in Oshkosh, Nebraska, to Ross Wayne Casey and Esther Swanson Casey. She grew up in Oshkosh and graduated from Garden County High School in 1940, and continued her education at the University of Nebraska, graduating with a B.S in Home Economics in 1944. She returned to Oshkosh to teach Home Ec at GCHS. She met Curtis C. Bratt, a young geology student from Lincoln, who was working near Oshkosh, and they were married on June 24, 1944, at the main post chapel at Ft. Benning, GA. They moved two weeks later to Pacific Grove, CA., where Curtis was assigned to training at Ft. Ord. When he was sent to the Philippines and to Japan, she returned to Oshkosh to teach at GCHS, Chappell Hill HS and later, at Peru State Teachers College. After his tour ended, they returned to Lincoln, NE, where he finished his degree at the University of Nebraska, after which he went to work for Phillips Petroleum Co. as a geophysicist. While living in Texas, they had two daughters, Linda and Carol. The family moved from state to state the next 9 years with Phillips’ oil field crews then to Bartlesville, Houston, TX, back to Bartlesville, then to London, England, for nine years until his retirement in 1985 when they returned to Bartlesville. They were charter members of the 55+ Activity Center and the Jane Phillips Square Dance Club. Curtis passed away in October of 1990. Arlene was a member of the Kum Dubl Sunday school class of the First United Methodist Church and active with United Methodist Women, Meals on Wheels, and the Bartlesville Area History Museum, Tuesday Club, and Fleur-de-Lis Garden Club. Her hobbies included collecting English antiques, painting, crafts, sewing, and playing bridge and mah-jongg. She was a life-long supporter of the Univ. of NE Cornhuskers football. Until her death, she had been a resident at Green Country Village. Survivors include her daughter, Linda and her husband, Joe Watson, of Jacksonville, FL., and Carol Bratt and her husband, Hector Leal, of Redmond, WA. She had seven grandchildren: Mark (Tracy) Watson, Matthew (Laura) Watson, Corey Watson (Tony) Reid, all of Jacksonville, FL, and Casey Watson of Washington, D.C., Andres (Erin) Bratt-Leal of San Clemente, CA., Valerie Bratt-Leal of Austin, TX and Claire Bratt-Leal of Redmond, WA. She leaves nine great-grandchildren: (Mark) Devon Seymour, Tyler, Jake and Aaron Watson, (Matt) Austin and Cole Watson, (Corey) Anthony and Amelia Reid, and (Andres) Calden Leal. A tenth great-grandchild is due to Andres and Erin in March. Arlene also had a sister, Joan Casey Frates, of Brule, NE., a sister-in-law, Donna Bratt of Bayard, NE. and two nephews, Kelly Frates and family of Dalhart, TX., Barry Bratt and family in Colorado, and a niece, Terry Bratt in Minnesota. The family wishes to also thank Nancy and Bob Farmer and their families, and Kathy Hart and her family of Tulsa for always including her in holidays and their personal family celebrations, Rita Putney, and her personal caregivers at Green Country, the staff at Adams Parc, and the staff and all her friends at Green Country for their thoughtful care and loving, enduring friendships until Arlene’s passing. Services will be on Sunday, Sept.6, 2015, at 2 pm at the First United Methodist Church (4715 Price Rd.) Although the funeral home is open for viewing from 9am until 9pm, her family will greet her friends at Stumpff’s Funeral Home on Sat evening, Sept 5, from 6 to 8 pm. Her family requests NO flowers but donations may be sent in her name to Operation Smile, 3641 Faculty Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23453; Holt Adoption International Children’s Services, P.O. Box 2880, Eugene, Oregon, 97402, the 55+ Activity Center at 1400 S. Washington Blvd., Bartlesville, OK 74006, or to the charity of your choice, with acknowledgements to be sent to Linda Watson, 2233 Saye Drive East, Jacksonville, FL 32225.

Inez "Arlene" Bratt

March 9, 1923 - September 3, 2015