Earl M. Brazil

A funeral service celebrating the life of Earl M. Brazil, age 88, a fourteen year resident of Nelsonville, formerly of Newark, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 22, at Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home with Rev. Steve Rath officiating. Burial will take place in Newark Memorial Gardens where military honors will be observed by the Licking County Veterans Alliance.Earl was born April 19, 1926 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin to the late Marion and Myrtle Ester (Wakefield) Brazil. He passed away on Monday, May 19, 2014 at OBleness Memorial Hospital in Athens.Earl was a veteran of the United States Navy and proudly served his country during World War II from 1944-46 where he had been a Navy swimmer. He retired from the Rockwell Corp. and following his retirement had been employed with Mathews Ford in Heath as a parts runner. He was a member of the Licking County Farm Bureau.An avid musician and singer, Earl played the guitar as well as several other instruments. He was a member of several country music bands including the Troubadors, the Chorehands and Carmen and The Desperados. He had been the opening act for country music performer Smiley Burnette at Hillbilly Park.He is survived by his companion of fifteen years, Lorna Barber; children, Scott (Christine) Brazil of Heath, Terese Corey of Newark and Darren E. (Kathy) Brazil of Columbus; brother, Jerry Brazil and sister, Laura Leathers, both of California; nieces and nephews; special friends, Gary (Connie) Barber of Texas, Harry (Jill) Barber and Lorena Harkless, all of Nelsonville; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom he dearly loved.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth I. Brazil; two daughters, Erlita Brazil Coss and Marti Brazil; and his step-mother, Thelma Brazil.Friends may call from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, at the funeral home, 179 Granville Street, Newark, and also from 10-11 a.m. prior to the service on Thursday.Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for the Brazil family.