Dorothy Emily Brainerd

Dorothy Emily Brainerd passed into God’s hands on Monday, August 17, 2026; she was 92 years young. Dorothy was born December 14, 1933 in Ennis, Texas where she attended elementary grammar school and grade school at St. John’s Catholic School. Dorothy moved to Kermit, Texas in 1948 to begin 8th grade then graduated from Pampa High School in Pampa, Texas in 1952. She moved to Amarillo, Texas to attend nursing school at St. Anthony’s School of Nursing where she graduated in 1955.

While attending nursing school Dorothy met Richard (Dick) W. Brainerd of Amarillo, Texas. They were married in Pampa, Texas on February 4, 1956, during one of the Texas Panhandle’s largest snowstorms on record. Her family and friends called her ‘the bride who wore snow boots.’ The couple then moved to Austin, Texas where Dick attended University of Texas School of Law and Dorothy worked as a nurse at Seton Hospital.

Following Dick’s graduation in 1960, the couple moved to Amarillo, Texas for Dick to pursue his career as an attorney while Dorothy began raising four children. Dorothy and Dick moved to Vega, Texas in 1964 when Dick was elected Oldham County Attorney. Dorothy worked as a mother until their youngest entered school, then returned to her nursing career at High Plains Baptist Hospital in 1969. She worked in many different departments at High Plains until retiring in March 1996.

Dorothy is preceded in death by her adoring husband, Richard, and son, Kevin Francis Brainerd. She is survived by three children; daughter Becky Casso and husband Carlos Casso of Amarillo, Texas; son Richard (Rick) Brainerd, Jr. and wife Gayla Gipson Brainerd of Fort Worth, Texas; and son Stephen Brainerd and husband David Hartley of Livermore, California. She is also survived by four grandchildren; Lauren Brainerd and husband Daniel Ingram of Fort Worth, Texas; Richard (Trey) Brainerd, III and wife Nicole Wilganowski Brainerd of Huntsville, Texas; Michelle Casso Herr and husband Michael Herr of Grand Prairie, Texas; Daniel Casso of North Richland Hills, Texas; and two great grandchildren, Brice Waldron Brainerd of Huntsville, Texas and Asher Brainerd Ingram of Fort Worth, Texas. She was loved by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great nephews who adored their sweet and beautiful Aunt Dorothy.

The Brainerd family thanks all family and friends for their prayers and well-wishes remembering Dorothy and her charming and sometimes spicy wit, sayings and mannerisms. She will truly be missed.

Funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Saturday, August 29, 2026 at Immaculate Catholic Church in Vega. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Vega. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Vega Memorial Gardens Cemetery fund, Meals on Wheels of Oldham County, Vega, Texas, or your favorite charity.