Henderson Day Braneff

Henderson Day Braneff passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, November 2, 2020, at College Street Health Care Center. His battle with serious medical issues in recent years showed his courage in facing life challenges with a smile. Despite the pain, Henderson was a real hero and stayed strong until the end. Henderson was born in Starks, Louisiana, on August 23, 1932. The family moved to Vidor when Henderson was a young child. He attended Vidor schools from elementary to high school. In Vidor, his family owned a cafe on Highway 90 and it was there he met his future wife, Mary Ellen Roebuck. The cafe gave each customer a glass every time they purchased a glass of tea. They fell in love over tea. The family still has those glasses. Henderson and Mary Ellen were blessed with five children: Christine, Vicki, Rhonda,Billy, and Larry.

Henderson began his career with one truck, hauling logs. He grew that business into a trucking company with multiple trucks, hauling dunnage lumber to the ports of New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Houston, and Beaumont. He also provided lumber to many commercial customers and to lumberyards along the Mexican border. As his business grew, he opened a successful lumberyard in Vidor. People loved Henderson’s great sense of humor. He was asked one time at the lumberyard by a customer if he financed lumber. He told them, “I made a deal with Vidor State Bank that if they wouldn’t sell lumber, I wouldn’t give out loans.” If asked how he was doing, he would always answer, “If it was any better, I couldn’t stand it.” He never met a stranger and always greeted everyone with “Hey, Easy Money,” “Hey, Poor Boy,” or most frequently “Hey, Hoss.” As a dad, he doled out numerous bear hugs and never let you forget how special you were to him. Whether you were gone 5 years or 5 minutes, when you walked in the door, he would grab you up in a hug and tell you how happy he was to see you and proclaim, “I love you so much, I wouldn’t take $1 million for you!”

As he became more successful, he still lived modestly. When his daughters were in high school, he drove a silver Chevrolet truck that was so rusted at the bottom, you could see the road. The girls were embarrassed by the truck, so they placed a sign in the window, “Steal Me.” To their chagrin, no one did. You never knew who would be sitting at the dinner table. Mary Ellen would cook a big home-cooked lunch every day. Henderson was always bringing people home to eat. The mailman was asked one day to eat. After that, our mail was mysteriously handdelivered to the door at lunchtime every day. The mailman ate many meals with us. There were many happy times around that dinner table because of all the “strays” Henderson and the kids brought home.

Henderson is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Mary Ellen Roebuck Braneff. He is survived by children: Christine Wolfe and husband, David, of Vidor; Vicki Friedman and husband, Gary, of Houston; Rhonda Carpenter and husband, David, of Vidor; Billy Braneff and fiancé,Wanda Robichaux, of Vidor, Larry Braneff of Vidor. Grandchildren: Stephen Wolfe, Hayley Friedman, Matthew Braneff, Ben Braneff, Stephanie Braneff, Allie Braneff, Nick Braneff, Jessica Braneff, Julie Braneff, Maeghan Braneff, Mallory Braneff, Aiden Braneff, and 12 greatgrandchildren. Brother: Estil Braneff and wife, Mary, of Vidor. He is also survived by his wonderful caregiver, Pam Braneff, as well as a host of nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ira and Gracie Braneff. Sisters: Willie Lee Truelock, Maggie Bloomfield, Ellen Gilmore, and Jean Gould. Brothers: Thomas Braneff, Charles Braneff, and Robert Braneff. He was also preceded in death by his precious grandson, Aaron Wolfe. We will miss his quick smile and sense of humor. We look forward to our homecoming with him in heaven,

We miss you and love you so very much.

A private graveside service will be held with immediate family members due to Covid and family members with autoimmune disorders.