Ralph “Mickey” Brakus was born on Jan. 11, 1942, in Aberdeen, Wash, to Mitchell John and Kathryn Marie Lynch Brakus and left this world on Dec. 25, 2017, in Oxnard, Calif. in the presence of his caregiver, Paula Engen. Thank you, Paula Engen, for taking care of Ralph for the past several years.
Mickey got his nickname as a baby after someone noticed Ralph’s likeness to Mickey Mouse’s ears, and the name stuck. Mickey’s life was adventurous and full. He and his brother, Tom, harvested Cascara bark and sold it in town for spending money. When they weren’t making money, they were making mischief. He graduated from Aberdeen High in 1961. He worked in the forest industry before joining the Navy Reserve for four years and two years active duty. He served in the Merchant Marines for more than a decade. The Merchant Marine Services took him to Asia, Vietnam and the Red Sea, but he spent most of his adult life in Southern California.
He had skills too. The man could slice a banana without peeling the banana. He enjoyed culinary classes, where he learned how to make carrots and radishes look like little flowers and olives look like rabbits.
Mickey’s jobs were as varied as they were interesting. He crewed on private yachts and Lady Washington (which found its fame on “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie), ministered on a radio show, worked in the oil fields of California as an oil truck driver, but perhaps his favorite job was being Santa. He loved entertaining people and especially kids. Christmas was his most favorite time of the year.
Mickey proudly served as a member in Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas as well as in the Santa Claus Hall of Fame, National Beard Registry, Santas Across the Globe and Southwest Santas.
Mickey enjoyed a nomadic life, living a decade or more in small quarters like his truck camper. He was an expressive story teller, loving the limelight. He enjoyed jumping out of airplanes so much that he did it over 300 times. At his parent’s 50th wedding anniversary party, Mickey worked the room like a professional. He loved to talk to people and never met a stranger.
Mickey was preceded in death by his parents, Mitchell John and Kathryn Marie Lynch Brakus, and brother, Thomas Robert Brakus. Mickey is survived by his sisters, Carole (Randy) Barnhart, Patricia Johnson and nieces and nephews, Suzi (Jim White) Barnhart White, Trina (Rick Pinter) Barnhart McLoughlin-Pinter, Brian (Tara) Barnhart, Kari (Brandon) Brakus Wild, Tony Brakus, Dana (Trevor) Pearson, and Teresa (James) Harvey, and several great-nieces and nephews.
