Denison Herald
February 6, 1994

DENISON - Norman D. Bratcher, 81, a long-time Denison civic leader and one of Texas' oldest funeral directors, died Saturday, Feb. 5, 1994, in a Denison hospital. Funeral will be 2 p.m. Monday at the First Christian Church of Denison with Dr. Boyd Sawyer and Dr. Steve Mansen officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, with Bratcher Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Bratcher was licensed as a funeral director more than 60 years ago after passing the state board exams at John Sealey Hospital in  Galveston. He launched his career with Dillon and Sons Funeral Home in Cleburne, where he served his apprenticeship.
In 1936 he joined Everett Welch Funeral Home in Gladewater, and in 1944 came to Denison where he bought out Verne Murray's interest in the Short-Murray Funeral Home in  Denison. Bratcher teamed with Lloyd Moore when the two men acquired all the interests of the previous Short-Murray owners. The two men built the present building in 1939, and Bratcher later bought out Moore's interest.
Bratcher was appointed to the Texas State Board of Morticians by Gov. Allan Shivers in 1951. In 1955 Bratcher was elected president of the state board, serving two terms. Bratcher also served as a director of both the Texas and North Texas Funeral Directors Association.
In Denison, Bratcher was a member of the First Christian Church, Chamber of Commerce, Elks Lodge No. 228, Lone Star Masonic Lodge No. 403 (Denison Chapter 38, Denison Council 83 and Denison Commandry 24). He was a 50-year member of the Denison Rod and Gun Club, Woodlawn Country Club and Tanglewood Country Club.
For many years Bratcher was "Mr. Goodfellow" in Denison when he headed the annual holiday Goodfellow drive to aid the needy.
Bratcher was born April 29, 1912. in Cleburne, son of  Albert M. and Bess Bratcher. He was married Jan. 21, 1934. to Sue Hall of Stephenville, who died in 1991.
Bratcher purchased the Harrington Funeral Home in Plano in 1974 and his son-in-law, Ted Dickey, was named manager. Dickey and his wife have since purchased the Plano funeral home which operates under the Bratcher/Harrington home.
Survivors include one son, Robert D. Bratcher of Denison; one daughter, Carolyn Dickey of Plano; one brother, Murray Bratcher of Cedar Hill; and five grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Jim Brooks, Rusty Brooks, Worth Campbell, Hugh Chesnutt, John Clift, Fred Conn, Ed Fawcott, Horace Groff, Charles Kuhn, Dick Montgomery and Mike Pike.
The family will be at 614 Ambassador from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday.