Brion Hayter Powell Ferratt

Brion Ferratt, 52, passed away Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Fort Worth.

Funeral: 10 a.m. Wednesday at Grace Community Presbyterian Church, 7101 North Riverside Drive, Fort Worth. Interment: Bourland Cemetery. Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the church.

Memorials: In lieu of usual remembrances, The Ferratt family suggests contributions in Brion's memory to Community Hospice of Texas, Caringbridge.org, and PheoParaTroopers.org.

Brion Hayter Powell Ferratt was born September 28, 1964, at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, Virginia, son of John "Jack" Powell, Jr. and Joyce Hayter Ferratt. He grew up in Annandale, Virginia, and graduated from Falls Church High School in 1982. Following in his father's footsteps, he attended and graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Pamplin College of Business, with a marketing degree and a minor in technical writing. While a student at VA Tech, Brion was active in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and loved to read, memorize, and study the Bible. Brion served in many churches throughout his life as a youth leader, small group leader, auditor, moving crew organizer, Sunday School teacher, and officer search committee member.

Brion met and married Laura Lee Stewart while they both attended Burke Community Church, in Burke, VA. They would have celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on October 3rd of this year. Brion and Laura welcomed two sons, John T.B. and Bowen Blake, to their family while living in the Northern VA area. Brion's career path led him into contract management, and he worked for several companies to include Unisys, Soza Inc., Innolog (Noblis) and the Mitre Corporation.

In 2005, Brion transitioned his family to Fort Worth, TX, where he was employed at Dyncorp, and for the rest of his life at Bell Helicopter, Textron. At Bell, Brion worked on the H-1 and V-22 programs, and built many enduring friendships with both his co-workers as well as many of his Federal government counterparts. He had been employed by Bell Helicopter for 11 years.

Brion was involved with and served on committees for both Toastmasters International, as well as the National Contract Managers Association for many years, in both VA and TX. In his personal life, he was an avid swimmer, soccer-player, and bicyclist, participating in many long-distance cycle  rides in Texas, as well as 20+ mile-a-day cycle commuting.
He was a master woodcrafter, photographer and chef, and loved to read.

Brion served as a deacon for Grace Community Presbyterian Church, where he and his family have been members since 2006.  He was a devoted disciple of Christ, husband and father to his boys, and proved his great love and commitment to his Savior throughout a 7+ year-long trial with a rare neuro-endocrine cancer. His courage and bravery has been an evident testimony to his strong faith and hope in Christ, and an inspiration to many.

Brion was preceded in death by his father, John Powell Ferratt Jr.

Survivors: Wife of 25 years, Laura Lee Ferratt; sons, John Tarlton Butler Ferratt and Bowen Blake Ferratt; mother, Joyce Hayter Ferratt; brothers, Bruce Owen Ferratt and wife, Melissa Rose Ferratt, and Mason Sheffield Ferratt and wife, Jill Canters Ferratt; niece, Amelia; nephews, Sam, Carter, Cole, Emory, and Luke; and a host of loving friends and church family.