Obituary of Milton William Braden

Milton W. “Mickey” Braden died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Monday morning, October 16, 2017.Mickey was born on November 24, 1936, in New Orleans, LA to Milton William Sr. and Mary Cannavan Braden. A faithful alum of the Holy Cross HS class of 1954, Mickey went on to earn bachelor and master degrees in Petroleum Engineering from Louisiana State University.Mickey was a proud oilman and enjoyed a lifelong career in the oil industry. He began his career working in the Louisiana offshore oilfields before joining Tenneco Oil where he rose to senior engineering and production management positions. He always recalled with fondness his 17 years at Tenneco, where he played an active role in the development of the US Gulf Coast oil industry and made many lifelong friends along the way. Though he worked at several independent energy firms following Tenneco, he most enjoyed working with his friends and industry contacts as a consultant to the oil industry. He was a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.Mickey met Lorraine Simon at a Catholic singles event in New Orleans on a riverboat cruise and they married in Edgard, LA in February 1962. They raised their two children, Guy and Lisa, between Houston, TX and Lafayette, LA before settling in Ft. Worth in 1985.Mickey and Lorraine were members of St. Bartholomew and St. Andrew Catholic Churches for many years before joining University Christian Church where he was a member of the Logos Class. He was also very active in social justice ministries including Family Pathfinders, JustFaith and Allied Communities of Tarrant (ACT).Mickey enjoyed many activities including golf, boating, fishing, model trains and always had a project in the works. Chasing specks and reds in the Louisiana marshes and Texas bays was especially exciting for him.Mickey was a great inspiration to his family and friends. Despite his decreasing mobility, he never allowed his physical limitations to dampen his will and spirit and pursued his dreams to the end. He was a lifelong learner and often attended classes at Tarrant Community College, learning about writing family histories, photography and creating and editing videos. He actively tutored his grandchildren and many other children through the Boys and Girls Club. He firmly believed in the power of a good education.Mickey was preceded in death by his brother, Allen Braden, and brother-in-law, AJ Simon Jr.Survivors: He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lorraine; his children, Guy Braden and wife, Terri, and Lisa Oxford; grandchildren, Aaron, Sarah, Ellen, Rebecca, and Rachel Braden, and Skylar and Makayla Oxford; brother, Jerome Kenneth Braden and wife, Mazie; and sisters-in-law, Miriam Costes and husband, Peter, Susan Braden and Brenda Simon; and his many nieces, nephews and dear friends.