Joseph P. Braniff

Funeral Mass for Joseph Patrick Braniff takes place Saturday, July 9, at 11 a.m. at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, Oak Harbor with Rev. Marc Powell as Celebrant. The Rite of Committal will follow at Sunnyside Cemetery, Coupeville. A reception for family and friends will follow at the St. Augustine’s Parish Hall.

Joseph Patrick “Joey” Braniff, 36, died suddenly at his home in Lynnwood on July 4, 2005. He was born in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Jan. 5, 1969 to Edward T. and Olga V. “Cis” (Kovat) Braniff. Joey moved to Zillah with his family and entered the second grade. He played football in high school and graduated with the Class of 1987.

Joey developed a talent for cooking and worked as a chef at Mitzel’s Restaurant in Oak Harbor. He left the Northwest for four years and attended DeVry College in Phoenix, majoring in accounting and business. He returned to Washington, where he was involved in opening several new restaurants in Everett and Spokane. He also spent many summers working as a chef in Nantucket. At the time of his death he was a chef for Clay Lacy Aviation in Seattle.

Joey was an avid Denver Broncos fan. He loved video games, movies, Stephen King novels, the Food Network and humor. He had a quick wit and made lasting friends easily. He worked hard, played hard and put his all into any project he took on.

Joey is survived by his mother Cis Braniff of Oak Harbor; by three sisters, Alison Burnes and husband Jack of Zillah, Therese Hawkins of Seattle and Brigid Buchanan and husband Scot of Burlington; four brothers, Edward Braniff of Wenatchee, Kevin Braniff and wife Patricia of Naples, Fla., Christopher Braniff and wife Lori of Jacksonville, Fla., and Timothy Braniff and wife Carrie Jo of Olympia; and one sister-in-law, Mona Braniff of Arlington, Texas. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by his father Edward T. Braniff and one brother Martin Braniff, MSCS, USNR.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel.