Joseph Lawrence Breal, Sr.
A devoted father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend, Joseph Lawrence Breal, Sr., died in the first minutes of March 14 after a two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. He was 69, just a few weeks shy of his seventieth birthday.
Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, on April 4, 1952, Joe was the eldest son of Floyd and Claire Breal, and he spent his childhood running around the Coast with his many Breal and Tucei cousins, excelling at sports (he played football, baseball, and basketball at Notre Dame High School), helping out at his uncle’s fish camp, and setting a (mostly) good example for his beloved younger brother, Greg.
One of the first things you’d learn when you met Joe was that he attended Mississippi State University. He earned a degree from the MSU College of Business in 1974, majoring in Business Statistics and Data Processing, and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He was “true Maroon,” proudly supporting his alma mater as often as he could over the years, whether by (loudly) cheering on the Bulldogs sports teams, leading the MSU alumni chapter in Fort Worth, establishing a scholarship fund, mentoring new SigEp fraternity brothers, or always either wearing or displaying MSU maroon (even his car mats bore the MSU logo).
In 1979, he moved to Fort Worth to take a job as a data administrator with General Dynamics and then as an IT specialist with IBM, where he was employed for 21 years. In the eighties, his Cowtown roots deepened significantly as he welcomed a daughter, Jordan, and two sons, Joséph and Matthias, all first-generation Texans, whom he raised with their mother, Dee Dee.
An avid sports fan and music lover, Joe was never far from a golf course or stadium or concert venue. A longtime member of the Texas Association of Sports Officials, he officiated innumerable high school and college football games (and never made a wrong call). He often worked the scoreboard at TCU basketball games and every spring you could find him at the Colonial Country Club PGA golf tournament, where he volunteered as a marshal and a captain for more than thirty years. If the Eagles or Chicago or the Doobie Brothers were in town, he’d be there singing along and streaming it live to Facebook.
Joe spent the last dozen years consulting for companies across the country, and he took up temporary residence in Portland, Boston, Louisville, and New York City before returning to his hometown of Biloxi for a few years. He moved back to Fort Worth once again in early 2021 and spent the last two years enthusiastically embracing the role of “Paw Paw” to his granddaughter, Jude, visiting his “sweetie pie” in Austin as often as he could and showering her with gifts, including her first MSU cowbell. His desire to serve and love God also grew ever stronger, and his faith—long nurtured by the friendships he made at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church—was a great comfort to him until the end.
Joe is survived by his brother, Greg Breal and his wife, Kay; daughter, Jordan Maynard and her husband, Corey; son, Joséph Breal and his wife, Chelsea; son, Matthias Breal and his wife, Jessica; granddaughter, Judith Maynard; nephew, Gregory Breal; niece, Hannah Breal; and many cousins.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Claire Breal.
A visitation and rosary will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 18, at Brown, Owens & Brumley (425 S. Henderson Street), in Fort Worth. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon on Saturday, March 19, at St. Patrick Cathedral (1206 Throckmorton Street). Burial will follow at Laurel Land Memorial Park (7100 Crowley Road). There will also be a memorial held in Biloxi in the coming weeks.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to the Joe Breal Loyalty Scholarship through the Mississippi State University Foundation. Commitments may be made online at www.msufoundation.com or checks payable to the MSU Foundation, Inc. may be mailed to P.O. Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS 39762.
With deepest gratitude, the family would like to thank the Texas Oncology team, Dr. Pedro Barata at the Tulane University School of Medicine, and the caregivers at Heart To Heart Hospice for their attentive care and support.
Brown Owens & Brumley Family Funeral Home
425 S. Henderson St.
(817) 335-4557
David Koskovich
My deepest sympathies to Joe’s entire family. Joe recruited me as a graduate of MSU. We worked together at General Dynamics. He was one of the most passionate people in everything he wanted to accomplish. He impacted my professional career as well as football officiating advocation. He was a dear friend for years. RIP my friend.
Greg Breal
RIP Joe, I will miss you ….
Cliff
Joe was a whirlwind high school, multi-sport standout athlete and student admired by everyone who was fortunate to know him. His infinite capacity for achievement was even more evidenced as a father, a professional and a lifelong friend. Joe accomplished much in life for which he could be proud, but his personal pride was always reserved for his children, his family and his friends. We were all blessed to share parts of our lives with Joe, and forever grateful for his friendship.
Mark Watkins
I am blessed tremendously with the wonderful memories of Joe and his passion for family and life. He truly was an inspiration for young people and blessed everyone who met him. We had wonderful times together debating our respective college teams, and he seemed to always win the debate. Thank you Joe!
Barbara Lyons
I was so pleased to see your family photo on Facebook as Joey spoke of his family unabashedly. His sweetie pie, Jude, brought him so much joy. I will add to his accolades, he was a wonderful Godfather too. He proudly accepted that role for my daughter Avon. They also have a shared birthday, April
4. We love you Joey.
Roy Rennels
I had the honor and privilege to work many football games with Joe; worked with him at the scorer’s table at TCU Basketball, and he and I would meet for breakfast, lunch or dinner — or a beer — on a regular occasion. No one was more passionate and devoted to whatever he was involved in than was Joe.
Joe – rest in peace my friend!
Sympathy to the family — may God comfort you all.
John Bialas
I was privileged to be one of Joe’s classmates and class officers starting all the way back to 1964-65 at Notre Dame High School in Biloxi. From 1966 to 1969, we played football together at Notre Dame, and decades later, we would see each other at WordPress meetups. Joe was a very good man to know. Peace and respect.
Amy
One of the greatest men I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He was very loved. And I made sure to tell him that every chance I got. My heart is aching but knowing he is with Jesus now is comforting. Rest peacefully, Mr Joe you will always be in my heart.
Ed Smith
RIP Joe. You will be missed. Hail State! I T H Ed Smith
Rickey W. Breal
We are so sorry for your loss of Joey. He will always be remembered for one of my favorite cousins. I will miss him and he will always be remembered with love.
Pattye Hicks
You will truly be missed friend. What a joy it was to join you in the development of the MSU Alumni -Fort Worth group. Thoughts and prayers are with your family during this time of great grief.
Mary Ann Latham
What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful man. Joe will be missed by all. I am so proud to have called him a very dear friend. Fly high, my friend.
Sam Montgomery
Shocked and saddened to hear of Joe’s passing. Worked with him at Yum Brands and he was wonderful to work with and we quickly became friends. May God bless your family during this time of your loss.
Anna Kopszywa Lohr
So happy to have known you cousin even if for just a little while…..RIP!!!!!
Donovan Wygal
I’m so sorry to hear the news of Joe’s passing. He and I became friends through volunteering at the Colonial Golf Tournament. He was a fine man and I’m so glad and honored that I got to know him.
Hoping for peace for Joe’s family.
Angela Sandoval
My sincere condolences to Matthias, Joseph, Jordan and Jude. Your father and Paw Paw certainly knew how to enjoy life to its fullest.
May he rest in peace with our Lord.
Arnold M. Payne III
My sincere condolences to the entire family. For many years Joe and I would cross paths at sporting events that he was working or volunteering. We never failed to have a conversation surrounding family & sports. “Proud” was an understatement, when he spoke of his kids and grandkids. Rest in eternal peace my friend.
Danny Collins
Joe was one of my closest friends in high school and he was a guy you could always count on. While not that close in recent years, I was always proud to have him as a friend. I read all of his many, many Facebook posts and was able to keep up with him and his family in this way. Jordan, Joseph, and Mathias, you have a tough act to follow but I am confident he has help prepare you for the challenge.
Paul T. Perez Sr.
Joseph and mija Chelsea, Matthias and Jordan you have to remain “Strong”. Which is easier said then done, for your families and friends. May, he “Rest in Peace” , he was a happy and wonderful man and loved the “Lord”. Love Grandma and Grandpa, Senaida and Paul T. Perez Sr.
David Stanovich
RIP Joey, will always have fond memoires of you and your dad who coached our Pony league baseball team in the early 60’s….farewell old friend