J.R. “Jack” Branson, born June 8, 1947, in Denver, Colorado, died on May 5, 2025.

He loved sports, played baseball and basketball growing up and also every chance he got as an adult. He was a member of the Aces baseball team in Angleton and the Spoilers baseball team in Taylor.

Later, he took up golf at Mustang Creek Golf Course in Taylor, winning consecutive city championships. Hunting and fishing were his favorites and is what brought him to retire on Toledo Bend Lake in Texas.

He attended Wharton County Junior College in Wharton, Texas and Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. He served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War stationed in Japan.

He worked for Missouri Pacific/Union Pacific Railroad for 38 years continuing a long family tradition.

He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Joseph Walter and Moise Middleton Branson, in-laws James Garland Freeman and Ella Lorena Stedman, and great-granddaughter Adeline Mae

Branson. J.R. is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Gwenda Branson of Toledo Bend, Texas; sons, Toby Branson and wife Judy of Geneva, Illinois and Joseph Branson and wife Tracey of Thrall, Texas; daughter, Beverly Wilhelm and husband Andrew of Leander, Texas; sisters, Diane Goodridge and husband Larry of Toledo Bend, Texas and Sandra Savoie and husband Ronald of Church Point, Louisiana; grandchildren Brittni Gallagher, Trevor Branson, Mason Branson, Grace Branson, Gehrig Graham, Ashtyn Graham, Colby Branson, Sydney Branson, Brady Jack Branson, Layne Wilhelm; great-grandchildren Charlotte Gallegher, Toby, Lucas, and Bo Branson, and Kemari George; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Our family is grateful for God’s gift of eternal life, for we will be together again one day.