Obituary -- Lyle de Braga

People who are described as “salt of the earth” are those who are considered to be of great worth to society – they represent the best of us. Lyle Norman de Braga was the salt of the earth. Lyle passed on to greener pastures on May 18, 2019 at the age of 86, surrounded by his family and loved ones, after a lifetime of giving of himself to his family and to his community. Lyle was born to Frank and Goldie Norcutt de Braga, members of pioneer Churchill County families. Lyle was the oldest of five children including Dennis, Bob, Ted, and Patsy. He spent his youth working on the family farm, in Stillwater, Nevada, which was recently honored as a Nevada Centennial Ranch. He learned the value and satisfaction of hard work at an early age. Lyle attended school in a one-room school-house in Stillwater then went on to high school at Churchill County High School, where he actually drove the school bus from Stillwater to Fallon and back each day. In addition to being school bus driver, Lyle was also an active member of ROTC and FFA during high school, serving in many local and state offices. He graduated from CCHS in 1950. Lyle married Marcia Smith Murdock on February 11, 1955, and they had five children - Lael, Francis, Jaime, Joe and Mitzi. Lyle farmed and ranched in the Stillwater District his entire life and taught his children many valuable lessons. Lyle loved animals, and always had at least one dog by his side – whether in the feed truck or the drive through at Dairy Queen. Lyle was devoted to helping his family and volunteered countless hours to 4-H, Junior rodeos, and the Nevada State High School Rodeo Association. He and Marcia were the main organizers of the Silver State International Rodeo Association for 25 years. They also attended every event in which their children and grandchildren participated - from basketball, baseball, softball, rodeo, soccer, wrestling, and track to music and dance recitals. Lyle supported Marcia for the ten years that she served Churchill County as assemblywoman in the Nevada State Legislature ion Carson City. He even survived having to eat tons of “campaign and rodeo trail” food. Lyle and Marcia loved rodeo kids and rodeo families and made many close friends throughout Nevada. Lyle served for eight years on the Churchill County School board. He loved “chasing bad guys” during his 20 years as a sheriff’s reserve officer. He also served our country in the National Guard. Throughout his life, Lyle earned many awards, including being declared “Man-of-the-Year” by the Nevada High School Rodeo Association. He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Francis Gail; and his beloved wife, Marcia. He is remembered by his grandchildren as the kindest person they had ever known. He was a wonderful friend, brother, father, father-in-law, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his siblings, Dennis de Braga [Franci], Bob de Braga, Ted de Braga [Barbara], and Patsy Weaver [Bub]; daughters - Lael Casey [Truman], Jaime Dellera [Joe], Mitzi Corkill [Bruce]; and son, Joe [Angie]; grandchildren, Dusty Casey [Amanda], Tiana Theodosis [Coby], Amy Jo Grissom, Jade Corkill [Haley], Bailey Corkill, Thomas de Braga [Shay], Justin de Braga [Kammie]; great grandchildren, Sequoya and Lakota Casey, Jackson and Hayes Theodosis, Colby and Kelton Corkill, Kase and Wacy de Braga. Mary Gilbert was devoted to him as his companion for a number of years. Funeral services will be held at The Gardens Funeral Home on May 28^th at 11:00 am. Donations in Lyle’s memory may be made to the Fallon High School Rodeo Club or the Stillwater School House Preservation Fund.     Never miss the local news -- read more on The Fallon Post home page. If you like what we’re doing, please support our effort to provide local, independent news and contribute to The Fallon Post, your online news source for all things Fallon.