Class of 1954
1953 Maroon Spotlight
James Brand
1954 Graduation EditionPerry Daily Journal
James Brand attended grade school at St. Joseph’s school and is finishing his high school education this year at Perry high school. He is the 18-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Brand, 1108 Kaw street, and was born March 9, 1936, in Perry. James played basketball from 1950 through 1954 and was a two-year letterman. While in Perry high school he was a member of the student council, 1951-52; Future Farmers of America, 1950-54; teen town, 1951-54; and the Perryscope staff, 1953-54. He plans to enter college at Oklahoma A. & M. college, Stillwater, or Oklahoma A. & M. School of Technical Training, Okmulgee.
James Edgar Brand
March 9, 1936 – March 29, 2014
James Edgar Brand, 78, passed from this life on Saturday, March 29, 2014, at Green Valley Nursing Home in Perry, Oklahoma.
Born March 9, 1936, in Perry, Oklahoma, he was the son of Leo Everett and Margaret J. (Wagner) Brand. Jim graduated from Perry High School class 1954 and went on to attend at Oklahoma A&M.
On May 25, 1957, Jim married Pat Kay at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Billings, Oklahoma, and to this union three children were born.
Jim worked for over 20 years as a custom harvester. He then went on to work for the City of Billings as the city manager for 12 years and he also served as mayor for a short time.
Jim was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Billings, Oklahoma. He also was a member of the Billings Lions Club, a volunteer at Billings Fire Department, and served on the city board. He loved to work, especially outside. He generally could be found tinkering with some sort of mechanical equipment try to get it to work and usually was able to do so. Jim also enjoyed hunting and loved taking “Sis” his bird dog with him.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Pat Brand of the Billings home; two sons, James L. Brand and his partner, John Stuemky of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Tim Brand and his wife, Rhonda K. of Perry, Oklahoma; two sisters, Linda Boyd of Ponca City, Oklahoma, and Ellen Etheredge and her husband, Johnny of Georgetown, Texas; two granddaughters, Timory K. Kennedy and her husband (James) and Taryn Taylor and her husband, Bryan; and three great-grandchildren, Alley K. Kennedy, Jett James Kennedy, and Gentry Allyssa Taylor.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Lori Ann Brand; one sister, Judy Merritt; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Wilbur A. “Dib” and Hazel Lee Kay.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, April 2, 2014, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Perry, Oklahoma with Father Mario Pulugujju officiating. Interment will follow in St. Rose Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Billings or the Billings Alumni Scholarship Fund.