2020 – Clair Branch- football
CLAIR BRANCH OBITUARY
Clair Maurice “CB” Branch
March 30, 1937 – June 18, 2022
On Saturday, the 18th of June 2022, Clair Maurice “CB” Branch, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away at the age of 85. Clair was born on the 30th of March 1937, in Kenedy, Texas, to Joseph Benjamin and Anna Maude Branch.
He received his Bachelor of Business from the University of Texas in Austin, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He was passionate about his Longhorns having played football at the University of Texas from 1956-1959.
Upon graduating from UT, he played four years of professional football in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Edmonton Eskimos before being drafted by the Houston Oilers. After playing ball, Clair enjoyed a lifelong career in the concrete pipe manufacturing business in Houston before retiring in 2012.
In 1995, He married the love of his life, Janice Jones Branch. Together they have five children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild: son, Barclay Branch and wife Lauri; daughter, Shelby Claire Branch, Joanna Branch Clark and husband John Clark, Jr., and Parker Branch and wife Celeste of Castle Rock, Colorado; children, Alexis Emily Branch and Jason Parker Branch, Jr., Brian Jones and wife Mary of Lake Charles, Louisiana; children, Jennifer Edith Jones, William Craig Jones and wife Katie; great-granddaughter, Aelin Rae Jones, Julie Jones Shannon and husband David, Jr.; children, Serena Elizabeth Shannon and Stone Rogers Shannon.
An avid hunter and fisherman, Clair enjoyed a lifetime of countless excursions in South Texas and loved his time at the family homes in San Miguel de Allende and on the West End of Galveston Island. Clair was a proud member of Tejas Vaqueros Trail Ride and up until recent years always looked forward to his annual trek into “the Canyon” with all of his compadres, Friends For Life. He was a Lifetime Vice President of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Throughout his 53 years of volunteering at the Show, he was proud to serve as Chairman of the Corporate Development Committee, Chairman of the Lamb Auction Committee and Chairman of the Grand Entry Committee. He was a member of the Jacques DeMolay Lodge 1390. A devoted member of The 100 Club of Houston, Clair was honored to serve as President from 2010-2011 followed by Chairman of the Board 2012-2013.
Clair was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Branch, his mother Anna Branch and his brother Phillip Branch. He is survived by his wife, Janice; sister-in-law, Judy Berry; brother, Dr. Coe Branch and wife, Sandra; sister, Clelia Sonntag; five children and numerous grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Clair’s family wishes to express their unending gratitude and appreciation to his caregiver, Norma Ayala for her loving care of Clair.
In lieu of customary remembrances, and for those wishing to make memorial donations, the family requests with gratitude that they be directed in his honor to The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational Fund, 3 NRG Park Houston, TX 77054; or to The 100 Club of Houston, 6919 Portwest Dr., Ste. 150 Houston, TX 77024-8050.
Please visit Clair’s online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com, where fond memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.
