Michael Aura Brause passed away Wednesday, March 30, at his home in Marbleton. Mike was born March 8, 1948, in Caplet, Wyoming, to Harold and Annie Brause. Mike grew up in LaBarge, WY and graduated from Big Piney, Wyoming in 1966. He loved swimming in the Green River around LaBarge while camping in the trees by the river as a kid. Mike talked frequently about the LaBarge Eagles being one of the better youth basketball teams in the state he was a part of.

After high school Mike joined the U.S. Navy 1967. In his 4 years he served on the USS Sanctuary (AH17), went to Yokosuka, Japan for Quarters Masters school, USS Vesuvius (AE-15) and USS Genesee (AOG8). He was honorably discharged in 1971 in Seattle, Washington with the rate of QM2.

In 1973 Mike went to work for Mountain Fuel Resources in Powder Wash Colorado. May 1973 he married Cindy Kadlecek in Moose, Wyoming. They moved to South Baxter Camp and then in 1976 it was off to Rangely, Colorado where they stayed until 1989. Mike quit Questar to go into business with his brothers in Big Piney.

When Mike wasn't pumping wells he built desks, shelves and toys out of wood and rebuilt his house in Rangely. He also was very talented at drawing portraits which helped him earn extra cash while in the Navy drawing his shipmates girl friends back home while out on deployment. Mike really enjoyed listening to rock n roll and country music so much that if he had a new song he liked he would make his friends come to the house and listen to it no matter what time it was.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Anna Brause; his brother Bud Brause. He is survived by his wife Cindy Brause of Big Piney, WY; his son Ryan Brause of Big Piney, WY; his daughter Jennifer Edwards (James) of Beeville, TX; 4 grandchildren; two brothers Bill (Jackie) Brause of Kingman, AZ;  Stan (Kelly) Brause of Foley, AL; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Graveside funeral service and military honors will be conducted Friday, June 18, at 10 am at the Plainview Cemetery in Big Piney.