Ray Alan ”Gus” Brassfield, 73, of Basehor, Kansas died Friday, October 11, 2024 at Advent Health Shawnee Mission. Visitation will be held Friday, October 18 from 10:00 to 11:00 in the morning at Porter Funeral home in Lenexa, 8535 Monrovia St., Lenexa, KS 66215. Services and burial to follow immediately.
Gus was born July 14, 1951 in Kansas City, Kansas to Alfred and Eliza “Belle” Brassfield. He graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1969 where he received his infamous nickname, Gus, when the football coach couldn’t remember his name. He was preceded in death by his loving and dedicated wife of 25 years, Glenna (Miller) Brassfield. His love of cars took him to many automotive shops during his career including: Midway Ford, Sutton-Kolman Automotive and most recently working alongside his son at B&G Automotive. On Fridays at 4:00, the guys would stop by the shop to help kick-off the weekend with a cold one and catch up on the week's happenings. Family was his greatest love. Many evenings after work, you could find him working on a side job with the kids watching/learning and of course holding the flashlight wrong. He coached many of the kids' sports teams, and loved attending the grandkids activities and events and spending valuable time with his mom or Teresa. Community was very important to him. He didn’t go anywhere without knowing someone or making a new friend. He often donated his time, skills and resources to support causes near to his heart. He mowed many yards for free when his knees worked better!
Gus is survived by his mother, Eliza Belle Billbe; two children and their spouses, Jo and Daniel Hickey and Ben and Elizabeth Brassfield; grandchildren, David, Jacob, Sophia, and Jackson and his re-kindled companion for the last 4 years, Teresa Mizell.
As a family we are grateful for all he has taught us, how to drive, make cocktails, live with a sense of humor, manage talking on the cell phone while making a shop call, how to hold a flashlight the right way and love with a whole heart. We know he has so many meaningful connections with his bonus kids and family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and clients. Condolences may be sent to Porter Funeral Homes. If you would like to make a donation in Gus’s memory, please do so to your charity of choice.
A continued celebration of his life will be held from 1:30pm to 3:30pm at the home of Ben and Elizabeth Brassfield, 18090 Evans Rd, Tonganoxie, KS.