Neal A. Branson

Neal A. Branson passed away peacefully Thursday afternoon, January 11, 2019, at his home with his son at his side.  He was 94 years old.  He was born on a farm in Fairmount, ND on October 5, 1924 to Roy S. and Lillian T. Branson.  The was the third of four children.  Neal served in the US Army as a medic during World War II and was a part of the occupying force in Japan following the war. In 1949, he moved to Albuquerque, where he lived out the remainder of his life.  From 1949 to 1952, he worked as a bookkeeper in a lumberyard while attending Browning Commercial School.  Following graduation in 1952, he began a 35-year career in accounting and technical writing at Sandia National Laboratory.  Neal was married to Ellaine Clayton from August 24, 1962 until her death in 2006.  Together they raised three children and enjoyed playing bridge and going camping.  Neal also enjoyed hunting and fishing.  The couple was active in the NM chapter of NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill), and Neal served on a commission to develop better policies for law enforcement in dealing with the mentally ill.  Neal was a faithful member of St. John’s United Methodist Church for his first few decades in Albuquerque.  Most recently, he was a faithful member of Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church for more than two decades.  In both churches, he served as an usher and on various committees, as well as participating in Bible studies and fellowship groups.

Neal is survived by his brother, Rex Branson of Fairmount, ND; his son, Robert Griffith and wife Linda of Albuquerque; his daughter Cyndi Greenleaf and husband Randy of Henderson, NV; Grandchildren, Jason Reinert, Karen Reinert, John Griffith and wife Catie, Joel Griffith, and wife Kelli, Rebecca Chancy and husband Josh, Rachel Lindsey and husband Matt, Justin Griffith and wife Samantha, Keven Greenleaf, and Julie Scura and husband Sean; 18 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by two sisters, Helen Reeser and Clara Branson; his wife, Ellaine; daughter, Rhonda Nielsen; and daughter-in-law, Mary Griffith.

A Visitation will be on Monday, January 14, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at FRENCH – Wyoming. Services will be Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at 2:00 p.m., at Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 8600 Academy Dr. NE. Albuquerque, NM.