Braden Charles (Bernie) Humpert, 33, of Wichita Falls, Texas, passed away on Wednesday, August 7, after a brief but fierce battle with cancer.

Bernie was born in Wichita Falls on January 21, 1991, to Kenneth William Humpert and Shara Kay Fulmer Humpert. Bernie was a 2009 graduate of S.H. Rider High School and of the Universal Technical Institute in Houston, TX. He was employed as an auto body tech at Foundation Collision Center.

Bernie was known for his kind and gentle nature and for his love of animals. His calming touch relieved the anxiety and calmed the fears of animals in distress. He was the family "animal whisperer," and many of his activities involved working with and training his own beloved heeler mix, Panda.

Bernie always took pride in his work, whether it involved training his dog, repairing cars, or cleaning his gun collection. He was meticulous and thorough; and what he did, he did well.

Though Bernie was a quiet and private individual, those who knew him well appreciated his dry humor and droll wit. All who love him have their favorite "Bernie-isms."

Bernie's interests ranged from target shooting to watching classic black-and-white movies. He especially enjoyed W.C. Fields and James Cagney films. An incident that perfectly illustrated Bernie's personality occurred early in his treatment. When asked if he would like to see a chaplain, in quintessential Bernie style, he leaned over to Shara and quietly deadpanned, "Don't they know that Charlie Chaplin is dead?"

Bernie is survived by his parents, Kenny and Shara Humpert; his two brothers, Brett and wife Ashlei and their children, Sawyer and River, and Brian and wife Lauren and their children, Tommy and Teddy; his half-sister, Tiffany Humpert Brillhart and husband Tom; and a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Bernie was preceded in death by his grandparents, Floyd and Betty Humpert and Charles and Louise Fulmer; and his half-brother, Kendall Humpert.

Visitation for friends and family will be on Sunday, August 11, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.at Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home, Wichita Falls. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 12, at Grace Church Chapel, with Rev. Reggie Coe officiating. Burial will follow at Hope Cemetery, Henrietta, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home. Feel free to wear your favorite Buccee's clothing for solidarity.

The family would like to thank all who so profoundly affected Bernie's life in the past few months. So many medical personnel cared diligently and lovingly for Bernie during his illness, doing all they could in their efforts to ease his discomfort and restore his health. Before his ordeal, Bernie never realized how many, or how much, people loved and cared about him. The unbelievable outpouring of support—physical, emotional, and spiritual—by friends, acquaintances, and even strangers touched his heart and lifted his spirit at the time he needed it most.

Because of Bernie's love of animals, the family requests that anyone who wishes to make a donation in his memory do so to Wichita Falls Reptile Rescue by PayPal to wfreptilerescue@pm.me or Clay County Animal Shelter, 503 N. Caroll St, Henrietta, TX 76365 or Humane Society of Wichita Falls, 4360 Old Iowa Park Rd, WF, TX 76305 or an animal welfare organization of your choice. An account has also been set up for a scholarship at Windthorst Federal Credit Union for PO Box 127, Windthorst, TX 76389.