Judge Jake Brisbin, Jr. will be buried on Oct. 31st at 9:00 a.m. at Arlington National Cemetery. For those who will be attending the service, officials from the Cemetery recommend for you to go to the Administrative Building and inform them you are attending the service. You will then be informed what section the service will be at. Please be at the Administration building by 8:15 a.m. It is suggested that you come in a vehicle because it may be some distance from the Administration building to the section where the service will be conducted. For more information about Arlington National Cemetery, please go to:  www.arlingtoncemetery.org

 We are all greatly saddened by the sudden death of Judge Jake Brisbin, Jr., who died Monday September 15, 2008 in a plane crash in the remote Sierra Madre Mountains in Chihuahua , Mexico .  Judge Brisbin was surveying the flood damage along the Mexican/ U.S. border between El Paso and Presidio, Texas .  Judge Brisbin gave his life doing what he loved to do; taking care of the people he served. 

 Judge Brisbin was born in Marfa , TX , July 25, 1948 .   He grew up in Marfa, Ft. Davis and Alpine.  He volunteered with the United States Marine Corps in 1966 and served with the 3^rd Marine Division, Republic of Vietnam, 1967 to 1968, was wounded during the Tet offensive in 1968 and was confined to Naval Hospitals for 14 months (during recovery).  A Purple Heart recipient, he was honorably and medically retired from the United States Marine Corps in 1969 and permanently retired from USMC in 1974.      

 Judge Brisbin had a long history of devoted public service.  At the time of his death, Judge Brisbin was serving as the Executive Director of the Rio Grande Council of Governments, a position he had held since 1999. Previously he served as Presidio County Judge, Mayor of the City of Marfa and Commissioner for the City of Marfa . Judge Brisbin was owner, president and CEO of the Marfa TV Cable Company.  Before coming to El Paso , Jake served on the Board of Director’s of the Rio Grande Council of Governments in numerous capacities.  Over the years, he served on a gamut of local and community boards and committees coached the Marfa Lady Satellites softball team and was a diehard Redskin fan.

His wife of 20 years, Cookie, was his partner and his soul mate. He is survived by his daughters, Shannon Bryant, and husband Steven, of Orlando , FL., Tonya Wilkinson of Albuquerque , NM and Kelli Morgan, and husband Jay, of Shreveport , LA.   He loved his grandchildren unconditionally, Reece and Madison Wilkinson, Taylor and Jayden Morgan and Sinjin Reinhard.  Jake also had two sisters, Julie Reeves of Australia, Karen Darling of Denver , CO and one brother, Charlie Hill of Alpine, TX; nieces, nephews and countless dear friends.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Jake Brisbin, Sr. and Betty Elmendorf Hill. In his home life and work life, Jake Brisbin was a mentor, an advocate, a source of strength, a conciliator, and a lovely, deeply caring individual.  All will miss him tremendously.

 A special thanks goes out to the U.S. Border Patrol, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center , Captain Robert Newman, Game Warden Texas Parks & Wildlife, the Mexican National Army, and the many others involved in the search and recovery of our beloved Jake.  The U.S. Consulate in Juarez , Mexico and the International Boundary and Water Commission were instrumental in providing support and information.  To those who gave comfort during the most difficult hours, Cookie would like to thank Presidio County Judge, Jerry Agan, State Representative, Pete P. Gallego, Teresa Todd, Rev. Ed Jennings, Presidio County Sheriff, Danny Dominguez and the Rio Grande Council of Governments staff. 

 Visitation for Judge Brisbin will be held at Harding-Orr-McDaniel Funeral Home, 320 Montana Ave. El Paso , TX on Monday, September 22, 2008 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.   A memorial service will be held on post at Fort Bliss , Center Chapel One, Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.   A second memorial service will be held at the Presidio County Courthouse in Marfa , TX on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 1:00 p.m.   Internment details are pending. 

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Big Bend Community Action Committee Inc., to benefit the Presidio-Ojinaga flood victims for whom Jake gave his life.  (BBCAC, Inc, P.O. Box 265 , Marfa , TX 79843 )  Cookie would like for all those who loved him to continue his work in serving the public.  

 If you would like to send your condolences to Mrs. Cookie Brisbin, they may be sent to her attention at 1100 N. Stanton, Ste. 610 El Paso, TX 79902.