John Brasier

John Edwin Brasier, 85, of Ucon, passed away April 5, 2025, at his home. He was under the care of his loving family.

John was born June 30, 1939, in Fairfield, Alabama, to Lewis Edwin Brasier and Arabella Snellings Brasier. He grew up and attended schools in Hueytown, Alabama, and graduated from Hueytown High School in 1957. In high school, he played on the school baseball team. Throughout his life, John and his dad enjoyed watching baseball together.

John grew up helping his dad and granddad work on a farm where they were very self sufficient. They grew vegetables, raised chickens, milked cows to make butter for sale, and kept bees to sell the honey. He hunted for deer, squirrels, possum, and wild boar. He also loved fishing for catfish and trout.

In June 1957, at age 17, John enlisted in the Navy. He served on the USS Midway as an electrician for 9 months and was transferred to the USS Long Beach. The USS Long Beach was the first nuclear ship of its kind and John was privileged to be on the maiden voyage. He went many places in his Naval career: San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Portland, OR; Norfolk, VA; Boston, MA; Wilmington, DE; Philadelphia, PA; the INL Site in Idaho, and many tropical islands. While serving on the USS Long Beach he was involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis. He served in the Navy until June 1963.

In the Fall of 1959, while stationed at the INL Site, John fell for one of the cute secretaries. After a short romance, on December 28, 1959, he married Veloe Murdock in Driggs, Idaho, before he had to leave on deployment to the East Coast. Veloe joined John in Wilmington, Delaware, and then moved back to Pocatello, Idaho, to finish his degree in Physics at ISU from 1963-1967. John worked night shifts at the FMC plant while earning his Bachelor Degree. On November 11, 1967, John and Veloe moved to their forever home in Ucon, Idaho. John started working as a nuclear physicist for Idaho National Laboratory from 1967-2005. After retirement, John continued working as a consultant for different nuclear facilities around the United States regarding nuclear waste disposal. In 2020, when he was 80 years old, John finally retired for good.

John was raised Southern Baptist and was contemplating becoming a preacher. John was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on July 8, 1961. John and Veloe were sealed for eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple on May 15, 1965. John served as a Sunday School teacher, Ward Clerk, High Councilman, and was involved in the scouting program. John always had a very strong testimony of Jesus Christ.

John was a busy man throughout his life. He never held less than three jobs to support his family. He was a referee for football and basketball and umpire for baseball throughout East Idaho. He also coached for his sons baseball teams. In addition, he started a business picking up new school busses and delivering them all across the United States. This business afforded him and his family the opportunity to see his Alabama family as much as possible. He also served as a Ucon City Council member from 2007-2025.

While he was a big man, John was a big teddy bear with a very tender heart. He loved his family and spent a lot of time teaching his kids how to fix things around the house and how to work hard. He would fish and hunt, and taught all his kids how to shoot a gun. He also knew how to play, he would play games in the front yard with his kids, challenge anyone to a board or card games. John especially enjoyed Alabama College Football and was an avid fan. Roll Tide!

John is survived by his daughter, JoAnne (Mark) Haws of Rexburg, ID; son, Don (Kelley) Brasier of Denver, NC; son, David (Sheri) Brasier of Idaho Falls, ID; daughter, Jana Brasier of Idaho Falls, ID; son, Doug (Diane) Brasier of Rigby, ID; 18 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Veloe Brasier; sister, Betty Jo Best; father-in-law, Russell Murdock; mother-in-law, Bertha Murdock; and daughter-in-law, Kelley Brasier.

The family will visit with friends Thursday, April 10, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road, and Friday from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Ucon Ward, 10854 North 41 East, Ucon, Idaho. Per John’s request, there will be no funeral services and a private family graveside will be held.

In lieu of flowers, John has requested to make a donation to the Disabled American Veterans.

The family would like to extend a special, heartfelt thank you to the kind and loving staff of Enhabit Home Health & Hospice, and the best neighbors and friends who checked on John every day.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.woodfuneralhome.com.