Lee Ann Bratteli's Obituary
Lee Ann Hammons Bratteli passed away January 28, 2017. She was born on November 21, 1926 to Lee Oniel and Clara Cabiness Hammons in Wewoka, Oklahoma.
Lee Ann and her elder sister, Florence were reared in Wewoka, where they were members of the First Presbyterian Church. Lee Ann graduated from the University of Oklahoma, and she loved to watch her beloved Sooners win at football. It was in Norman that she attended a USO dance where she met Hal Bratteli. After the war, they married and moved to Minneapolis. After completing his education, the couple returned to Oklahoma, where Hal went into the men’s clothing business with his father-in-law. Hal and Lee Ann moved to Denison, where they raised their family and Hal operated the L. O. Hammons Men’s Store there.
After a few years in Houston and in Paris, where they ran the L. O. Hammons Men’s Store with their son, Niel, they moved to Longview, where they purchased the Hurwitz Men’s Store and ran it with their son, Steve. When Hal retired, the couple enjoyed world travel. Hal died in 2002; the couple was married for 55 years.
Lee Ann’s faith was central in her life, and she influenced many in their Christian journey. She loved to entertain, and opened her home for a weekly Bible study for many years. She and Hal also welcomed several LeTourneau University students whose parents were overseas missionaries to live with them for periods of time. For a number of years, the couple worked as missionaries themselves with Youth With a Mission. They served in Kona, Hawaii, at a training base, in England, the Philippines, and Thailand. Lee Ann loved being a member of P.E.O, a women’s philanthropic and educational organization, for 72 years. Lee Ann was a member of chapter BZ in Wewoka, Chapter DI in Denison, Chapter FU in Paris, and Chapter FN in Longview.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Hal, her daughter, Elise Bratteli, and her sister, Florence Hammons Kennedy. She is survived by two sons, Niel and his wife Nancy, Steve and his wife Wendy, four grandsons, John, Paul, Ben and his wife Amy, and Corbin Bratteli, granddaughter Elizabeth, great-grandchildren Davis and Emily Bratteli, and a host of nieces, cousins, and their children.
A memorial service will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 3 at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 3800 Judson Rd. in Longview with Rev. Beau Sullivan officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Longview (3800 Judson Rd., Longview, TX 75605), Goodland Presbyterian Children’s Home (1216 N. 4200 Rd. Hugo, OK 74743), or Youth with a Mission (20131 FM 16, Lindale, TX 75771).
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