Donald R. "Pappy" Brannan

Donald Read “Pappy” Brannan, 62, of Jonesboro, died Friday, January 1, 2010, of natural causes.

Born in Southeast Missouri, Donald was a 1965 graduate of Malden High School and attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro where he was a member of the football team in 1965-1966. He was a retired Conductor for BNSF Railways with 37 years of service. He moved to Jonesboro two years ago.

Donald was a Baptist and an avid St. Louis Baseball fan. He was a member of the Thayer Masonic Lodge and the Alton-Thayer Elks Lodge where he served two terms as Exalted Ruler. Donald served in the Arkansas National Guard and enjoyed spending time on Norfork Lake. He was preceded in death by his parents: Phillip Read Brannan and Mildred Mae Kneibert Brannan, and a daughter, Jodie Rae Brannan.

Survivors include his caring companion Jan Brannan of Jonesboro who was married to Donald for 20 years;

3 daughters and sons-in-law: Kim and Brent Long of Jonesboro, Angie and Bobby Couch of Brookland, and Jill and Paul Peterson of Sherwood;

1 brother, James Keith Brannan of Greenville, South Carolina;

6 grandchildren who called him “Pappy, “ Drake Long, Brielle Long, Zachary Couch, Shelby Couch, Seth Peterson and Paytan Peterson; and

Several aunts and cousins.

A visitation will be held Sunday evening, 5-7, at Emerson Funeral Home in Jonesboro.

A visitation will be held Tuesday afternoon from 1:00-2:30 at Carter Funeral Home in Thayer, Missouri. A graveside committal service will be held Tuesday at 3:00 at Riverside Cemetery in Mammoth Spring with Bob Phillips officiating with Carter Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Honorary pallbearers include: Brothers of the Alton-Thayer Elks Lodge, the BNSF Railways Thayer South Subdivision, Warren Arends, Larry “Friday Joe” Garrison, and Roger Moore.

For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to the American Heart Association.