Leroy Bracelin
(1940 - 2026)
Leroy Bracelin was born in 1940 in Coquille, Oregon to Lawrence and Marge Bracelin.
Leroy had a work ethic second to none. He often said, “A day I didn’t work was a day I didn’t get ahead.” At just 14, Leroy went to work on Mrs. Perkins’s farm after his father struck a deal with him — save enough to cover the cost of a car plus insurance, and he could buy one. With that as an incentive, he bought his first car, a ‘48 Ford, at just 15 years-old, and this was the beginning of his love of driving.
During his sophomore year, Leroy met his lifelong love, Joanie Orr. After turning him down when he asked her out, she later asked him to the Sadie Hawkins dance, which was the beginning of a seventy-year relationship. They married in 1960, and were inseparable for the next six decades. Leroy was very proud of his family and was a wonderful husband, father, grandpa, great-grandpapa, and brother.
During his senior year of high school, Leroy worked nights at Coos Head Timber Company on the pond, feeding logs to the mill. He then went to work for Bob Angel, beginning with driving a water truck and working up to driving dump trucks and lowboys. Then, in 1966, he bought his first dump truck, a gas-fueled Ford. But after two years of gasoline prices, he figured that the switch to diesel would soon pay for itself. So, he bought what became “Truck #1”, a diesel rig he would later have restored into a show truck. With it, he hauled all over the state, going wherever the work took him.
In 1970, Leroy and his brother-in-law Irv “Spook” Yeager joined forces, pooling their trucks and buying Doyle Williams’ excavating business. The acquisition added two more trucks, a lowboy, and a Cat to their fleet — and Bracelin-Yeager Excavating and Trucking was born. They worked on many local projects like the development of Shore Pines Mobile Park and the City of North Bend street jobs. They even hauled the sand from their pit to fill the Pony Village Mall complex. Building their reputation by rocking logging roads for Weyerhaeuser and Darrell Fromm, Leroy and Spook eventually expanded the business further — acquiring a rock crusher, concrete plant, and asphalt plant. In doing so, they transformed Bracelin-Yeager into a complete material supplier capable of handling most any construction project. Leroy always attributed the success of Bracelin-Yeager to his crew. He said they had the very best people possible, and he considered them extended family. In 2000, Leroy and Spook sold the business to what has since grown into Knife River.
But Leroy didn’t only work hard, he also played hard! After retirement, Leroy’s passion for racing saw him and Joanie traveling by bus, following the NASCAR circuit across the country and discovering the East Coast along the way. It was through those travels that Leroy fell in love with the South, drawn in by the people and their rich history. He made many new friends along the way and created wonderful memories. Leroy and Joanie spent much of their time in Southern California and Arizona, where Leroy loved riding through the desert on his Razor with his buddies. He also became a true collector of “treasures.” Wherever they traveled, he kept an eye out for old equipment and interesting rust, eventually building an eclectic museum of things that includes cars, dump trucks, toy trucks, Indian memorabilia, and even a lumber carrier. Closer to home, he found joy in simpler pleasures too, puttering around on his property and planting trees in his yard, including one for each grandchild.
He was recently asked what his occupation was and if he liked it. His answer was, “I loved it!” So all in all, his was a life well lived. Leroy passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family and their unending love.
Leroy is survived by his wife Joanie, daughter Tracie Skinner (Rick) of Coos Bay, and his sons Gary Bracelin (Georell) of Bend and Chuck Bracelin (Joanna) of Coos Bay. His grandchildren include Jessica Nickerson, Tucker Bracelin, Brogan Bracelin, Trey Bracelin, Mae Bracelin, Raven Carreon-Lingana, Shaun Skinner, and Jesse Carreon-Lingana. His great grandchildren include Kinsley, Kylie, Beck and Myra. He is also survived by his sisters Diane Yeager and Gail Bracelin of Coos Bay.
At his request, no public service will be held. Private burial has been held at Sunset Memorial Park, Coos Bay under the direction of Coos Bay Chapel 685 Anderson Ave. 541-267-3131.
