Ouita Fay Hampton Bratton, 91, of Rochelle died Wednesday, March 17, 2021. She was born June 11, 1929, in Brady, Texas, to William G. and Ora Ethel Tatum Hampton. She was the eighth born of their nine children. Ouita graduated from Brady High School in 1946. She attended the University of Texas at Austin for a year before dating and marrying David Bratton on October 25, 1947. After a Texas-tour honeymoon that took them to Fredericksburg, Huntsville and the prison rodeo, Houston and the Rice Hotel, Galveston, back to west Texas via Del Rio and Ma Crosby’s, Marfa, and San Angelo and finally home to the Bratton Ranch near Rochelle, where the real adventures began. She and David spent the next 62 years on the ranch until his death in 2010, raising four children, livestock and running and improving the ranch on the land they loved.
As David’s partner, she was involved in the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association, Make it Yourself with Wool contests, and the Soil and Water Conservation. They loved to travel and, especially in later years, took wonderful trips and fun weekend jaunts with the great friends they had made along the way. Ouita was a wonderful cook and hostess. The table was always open at the ranch for whoever was there, whether for business or pleasure. Thanksgiving was the holiday when all the kids came to Granny’s to fill the round kitchen table and an ever-growing number of kid tables. Ouita was a volunteer at the Heart of Texas Music Museum, member of Mary Martha Circle, and Redhats. She was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Brady.
Survivors include three sons: Lewis Bratton, Don Bratton and wife Kitty of Rochelle, Bill Bratton and wife Bette of Stafford; and daughter, Mitzi Angly and husband Trey of Spicewood; five granddaughters: Kimbra and husband Michael Hobbs of San Saba, Mandy and husband Tony Chacon, Brayla and husband Patrick Roberts, Brezin and husband Oscar Roque, and Louisa Angly; seven grandsons: Travis Bratton and wife Meagan, Bronco Bratton and fiancée Desarae Webb, Reece Angly, David Angly, Will Bratton and wife Chelsea, Eli Bratton and wife Brittany, and Ben Bratton and wife Melyssa; 16 great-grandchildren; several nephews and nieces; a special cousin; and a host of friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, and siblings:
She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, and siblings: Lewis Hampton, Bob Hampton, Annie Mae Hampton, Frances Shaw, Weldon Hampton, Bill Hampton, JD Hampton, and Richard Hampton. She is also preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Laurissa Rawlings and husband Wayne. Gravesides services were held Saturday, March 20, 2021, at
Gravesides services were held Saturday, March 20, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at Resthaven Cemetery in Brady. Services were officiated by Pastors Bun Jackson and Stacey Bratton Evans. Music was performed by Mike Finlay. Pallbearers were grandsons: Travis Bratton, Will Bratton, Eli Bratton, Bronco Bratton, Reece Angly, David Angly and honorary pallbearer, Johnny Wayne Jones. Services were conducted by Heritage Funeral Home of Brady. Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.