Thomas Brace

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Thomas H. Brace, 60, of Perryville died Thursday, July 26, 2012, at his home.

He was born Nov. 18, 1951, in Perryville, son of Hubert O. and Marie Griffard Farris. He and Cheryl A. Holifield were married Nov. 7, 1987.

Brace was a deckhand leader on the M-V Pathfinder with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Mississippi River.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran. He went into the Navy Seabees in March 1973. He was discharged from active duty service in October 1975, and released from reserve in February 1979.

Brace graduated from Ste. Genevieve High School in 1971. He received his Merchant Marine license in June 2001 from River School in Memphis, Tenn. He was with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1989 to 1992 on the M-V Dredge Potter, and from 1994 to 2012 on the M-V Pathfinder.

His past employment included auto body tech for Trautman Auto Body in Ste. Genevieve, Mo., plumber for Ken Layton in Perryville, bartender at Weekend Pass, maintenance man at Gilster-Mary Lee, and waste fuel tech at LoneStar in Cape Girardeau. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking and just hanging out with the grandkids. He was a member of American Legion Post 133.

Survivors include his wife; four sons, Quentin Brace of Quincy, Ill., Chad (Julie) Morrison, Scott (Elisha) Morrison and Dustin (Rachel) Brace, all of Perryville; a daughter, Casey Brace of Quincy; four sisters, Cheryl (Larry) Gross of Chester, Ill., Mary (Dennis) Crader of Chaffee, Theresa (Dale) Doll of Fayette, Mo., Margaret (John) Kester of Cape Girardeau; and eight grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, Jerry Farris; a brother, Henry Brace; grandparents, Donna Brace and William and Louise Brumfield.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. today and from 6:30 a.m. until time of service Monday at Young and Sons Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. John Chamness officiating. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery, with military graveside service provided by the American Legion and U.S. Navy Honors Team.

Memorials are preferred for family use.