Bryson Thomas Bragaw

Bryson Thomas Bragaw was born July 14, 1995 in Denver, Colorado. Bryson joined his brother, Benjamin, to complete the Bragaw family. Throughout their childhood, the boys were inseparable. Paul taught his sons that life is all about adventure and Jesus, and together with their dad they climbed trees, built forts, wore out the go-cart, scaled mountains, skied, boarded, mountain biked, and more, giving Paul and DeeAnn so many reasons to thank God for their sons and ask God to protect them! The family lived in Colorado, Missouri, and Georgia, then back to Colorado during Bryson's childhood.

While they lived at Cohutta Springs, Georgia, 5-year old Bryson fell out of a tree, a theme repeated in several different locations throughout his lifetime. Bryson formed deep, lifelong friendships during his years in Elizabeth, Colorado. He also loved animals. Not only family pets, but the salamander he found in the garage, the injured bird in the snowstorm, the fish he won at a carnival – Bryson cared.

Intuitive, compassionate, and deeply sensitive to hurting people, Bryson was constantly looking for ways to help others. He would actually ask his parents to stop when any kind of emergency vehicle went by. "We need to pray for whoever needs help!" he'd say. That same compassion fueled his desire to help people in emotional pain, and he would reach out to his parents throughout his entire life asking them to pray for different ones of his friends, or people he'd just met.

He also had a great sense of humor and loved to make people laugh, often sending memes and jokes to his family and friends, as well as a few practical jokes. Bryson always loved older people. He loved to listen to their stories and learn and be mentored. Bryson attended high school at Campion Academy and Mountain Ellis Academy, and while at Mt. Ellis, Bryson fell rock climbing, sustaining a life-changing injury that caused chronic pain and many other challenges the rest of his life, and prevented him from doing some of the things he would have liked to do.

Bryson entered the workforce at the age of 16. He loved to grow things and make spaces beautiful while he worked at landscaping. He learned how to frame homes, how to remodel homes, how to professionally paint, and how to be a professional mover. His favorite work by far was his time in the mountains at Copper, where Bryson made a lot of friends and helped many other families enjoy their time together in the outdoors.

He was in his element cruising down the slopes on his snowboard, riding the waves on a surfboard, or on his motorcycle. If it was fast and adrenaline producing, he was in! He was equally in his element fishing, reading in a hammock, spending time with his dog, and camping. Bryson learned how to be a whitewater rafting guide, how to set up large event tents, how to do so many things to provide space for people to enjoy time with friends and loved ones. Bryson had an incredible work ethic and an incredible sense of community.

Bryson loved to eat and he loved to cook. "It's all about the sauce," he'd say. Bryson was generous. He'd give a complete stranger the shirt off his back if he thought they were in need.
Bryson was a lover of many different genres of music and had a great voice. At different times throughout his life he played the piano, trumpet, and guitar, and loved to enjoy music with family and friends.

Bryson is survived by his Parents, Paul & DeeAnn, brother and sister-in-law, Ben & Abi, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, "framily" with honorary nieces and nephews, and a host of friends whose lives have been touched by his sense of humor, willingness to listen, and love.

Byson said, "My purpose is to make somebody else's day better."
Thank you, Bryson, you did.


A memorial service will be held at 4 pm, Saturday, February 24, 2024 at the Campion Seventh-day Adventist Church, 300 42nd Street, SW, Loveland, CO 80537.