Cecil Lee Bratton Sr, age 91, of Knob Noster, passed away Friday, June 14, 2024 at home.

Cecil was born February 6, 1933 in Knob Noster, Missouri, the son of Cecil Southern Bratton and Lorena (Calvert) Bratton. He was a graduate of C.C. Hubbard High School in Sedalia, Mo. After high school he joined the United States Army and completed a tour in Korea.

In 1964, he married his wife Barbara Balance and together they created their beautiful blended family including their children Brian Kevin (LaDonna), Lorena Nadine Barnes (Verdock), Melinda Lee Simon (Malcolm), Cindy Shockley, Cecil Lee Jr, (Stacey), Dr. Edwin Leonard, Michael Montgomery (Maria) and Michelle Denning (Charles). He and Barbara worked together at Southern Bell that later became AT&T, retiring in 1994. Cecil was an astute businessman with an entrepreneurial spirit that allowed for success in multiple endeavors.

Cecil was known for his love of family. He instilled a strong work ethic in his children by word and example. He loved traveling, and gifted this passion to his children, whom every year, would load up the family in their station wagon and take a vacation, traveling all over the United States leaving them with memories and adventures together as a family to last a lifetime!

His love for family was also on display annually at their infamous family reunions. The first Bratton Reunion was held at his home in Knob Noster. As their extended family grew in love and size, the family reunion was moved to the Knob Noster State Park where the family continued to gather for 57 years every Memorial Day weekend.

Cecil and Barbara were the quintessential hosts, opening their home throughout the year for numerous festivities including their Community Christmas Tea, Easter Egg Hunt, Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners. Cecil would decorate the house with Christmas lights so extravagant, that they could be seen from the highway.

Cecil was a man of faith who loved God, lived out his principles and passed those virtues on to his children and grandchildren. He was baptized at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.

Cecil is survived by his children Michael Montgomery (Maria), Melinda Lee Simon (Malcolm), Cindy Shockley, and Cecil Lee Jr (Stacey); his sister Sally Ann Miller, 19 Grandchildren and 19 1/2 Great Grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Barbara Bratton, sons Dr. Edwin Bratton and Brian Bratton; two daughters, Lorena Barnes and Michelle Denning; his grandson Kevin Bratton; his brothers, William Bratton, Bobby Bratton, Milton Bratton, Floyd Bratton and two sisters, Julia Richardson and Joyce Hanner.

A funeral service will be held Saturday June 22, 2024, at the Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home in Warrensburg, MO at 12:00 PM. A visitation will be held from 11:00 AM until the time of the service. A graveside will follow the service at the Knob Noster Cemetery.