Bobby Earl Brister

Bobby was born to Chester Carl Brister and Lucille Humble Brister on May 26, 1935 in Orangefield, Texas. He received his reward of healing on Thursday, October 13 at Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. He married the great love of his life of 66 years, Betty Sue Collum on August 31, 1956. He began work at the age of 12 in the logging industry with his Dad, Chester Brister. He was a member of The Operating Engineers Local 450. He operated a crane for Anthony Crane, and then later for Maxim Crane. He was so skilled in his craft that they painted the words, “The Legend,” on his crane. He made many difficult lifts, from church steeples to refinery towers and highway beams. He was a talented self-taught fabricator and woodworker. He was once asked by the owner of Modern manufacturing in Beaumont to engineer, design, and build prototypes of a plow and other tools to be pulled by oxen in India. He was an avid hunter and fisherman but his primary love was for his family. Bobby enjoyed camping at the lake, as well as traveling with his family all around the country, particularly enjoying nature and anything Western-themed, from the rodeos in Wyoming to the Aztec ruins in New Mexico, the Royal Gorge, the snowy mountains of Colorado and the hilarious shows in Branson and everything in between. He is a member of Eastgate UPC, where he served faithfully as an usher for 9 years and helped with many projects around the church, including the placement of the new baptistry. He was baptized in January of 2004 and received the gift of the Holy Ghost in March, 2004. He loved the Lord, was faithful in attendance, prayed earnestly daily and had a huge heart for the church in every way! He had great joy in seeing his family and friends come to church and sit with him. He is survived by his wife, Betty Brister; brother Rodger Brister (Brenda) of Vidor; four daughters, Cathy Oliver (Glenn) of Fannett, Donna Turner (George) of Vidor, Jamie Brister (JC) of Beaumont and Wanda Watts of Beaumont. He has 10 grandchildren: Jennifer Vaughn (Dickie), Shelby Turner (Tiffany), Kimberly Hawk (Bryce), Kelsey Watts, David Holderman, Bobby Holderman (Tamara), Dawn Rodriguez (Ernie), Jeremy Oliver, Sunni Farren (Josh); 20 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild; and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Lucille Brister; brother George (Buddy) Brister; sister Evelena Williamson; and brother Horace Brister.