Don Jon

Brake

Don J. (DJ) Brake, 85, Passed November 7, 2026 after a brief illness.

He was born in Pearsall, Texas to Milburn and Dorothy Brake. Don loved family, travelling, music and photography.

He grew up in Dilley, Texas, graduated from Dilley High School in 1960. He attended Texas A&I University in Kingsville, Texas before being drafted into the Army in 1964. Don worked as a telephone operator while at Texas A&I.

Don was a Military Policeman at Yuma Proving Ground Arizona. He reached rank of Specialist 4th class. After honorable discharge from the Army in 1966, Don attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas where he obtained a BS in Forestry Recreation graduating in 1969. While in college, He also worked on oil rig drilling for oil and as a librarian at Stephen F. Austin University and also worked for the US Forest Service, Los Padres National Forest and the Los Padres Hot Shots in Santa Barbara, California.

Don was hired December 1969 by the US Dept of Interior, Bureau of Land Management in Roseburg, Oregon. He served as Asst Area Manager until 1985, then transferred to Gunnison, Colorado until he retired in 2000.

As forester he did Forester Inventory which involved identifying tree species, age, Height, diseases/insects affecting the site. He also laid out timber sales and determined the volume of the sale. He conducted timber sales. His main interest was reforestation and was responsible for the planting of thousands of trees.

Don enjoyed the outdoors and twice hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. He climbed Uncompahgre Peak, elevation 14,309 in the Gunnison National Forest. He loved travelling in the Great American Southwest with a brilliant eye for beautiful landscapes.

He retired to New Mexico where he loved photography, hiking, camping and spending time with his beautiful wife Christine.
Don recently moved back to Texas to be near family.

Don is survived by his spouse Christine, his daughter Donnell of Oregon and his son Derek & Lindsey of Colorado and granddaughter Kay of Oregon. He is also survived by a sister Mary Ann Campbell of Weatherford, TX and 2 brothers Dell & Sue Brake of Midlothian, TX and Jack & Terry Brake of Fort Worth, TX and numerous nieces and nephews.
Don was pre-deceased by his parents and brothers Roy of San Antonio and Gregory of Houston.

Don’s funeral arrangements are still pending. His wish was to be buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.