Charles (Charlie) Brammer Age 62, passed away on April 17, 2017 following a courageous, year-long battle with cancer. Despite his diagnosis, Charlie had a smile for everyone, remaining positive and inspiring everyone around him. Charlie was born in Tacoma, but grew up in Spanaway. Those who remember the Columbus Day Storm of 1962 will remember him as the 7-year-old boy from Spanaway who was attacked by a lion that had escaped from its pen after the wind blew it down. Charlie graduated from Bethel High School where he was an all-around athletes starting player on the basketball team and a pitcher on the baseball team. He also played on the high school's golf team and continued to play that sport throughout his life. He was especially proud to go golfing each Father's Day with his dad, his brother, his son and grandson. An avid sportsman, Charlie also loved to fish and hunt. Nothing meant more to him than the annual hunting trips he'd take with his life-long friend, John. Charlie worked as a plumber for the Washington State Fair for 25 years where he made many more friends and even met the love of his life, Debbie, whom he married in 1993. Sadly, Charlie was forced into retirement; however, his Fair Family stayed with him offering love and support. Words cannot express the gratitude he felt to all his family, friends and caregivers. In addition to his wife, Debbie, Charlie leaves behind a son; brother, Jim (Anna); father, Ray; grandson, and granddaughter, Charlie. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary and grandparents Emma and Lenard O'Hern. Services will be held at Fir Lane Memorial Park in Spanaway on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. (Visitation is on Wednesday, April 26, between the hours of 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.) In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, 1317 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 www.curemeso.org/.
Published in News Tribune (Tacoma) on Apr. 23, 2017