Georgia Myrl Bray (Jensen) Frazier

specialist first class, US Army, georgia myrl bray (jensen) frazier  

Born: June 27, 1916, Viola, Missouri
Died: July 23, 2002, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Female Veteran | WAVES | World War II
Frazier, Georgia Myrl Bray

Burial Site:   SFNC, Section 4, Site 505

Georgia Myrl Bray Jensen Frazier joined the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps in April of 1943, just after her husband was called up to serve.1,2 She was a specialist, and there is reason to believe that her specialty might have been a control tower specialist since she is listed as an Aviation Cadet.3,4 Where she served is unknown, but she likely served in Florida. When she was released from service is also unknown, but she was honorably discharged before the end of the war.5

Georgia Myrl was born to Walter and Cora Bray on June 27, 1916, in Viola, Missouri, the second of their two daughters, though the family had moved to Idaho by 1920.6 By 1930, she had lost her father and her mother had remarried.7 Jensen Frazier had shown musical talent early, and by junior high school was performing.8 Having lost her father young, it is sad that she also lost her mother early; by 1940, Jensen Frazier was living alone near the Boise Fairgrounds and going to school.9 However, she didn’t live at the fairgrounds for long as Jensen Frazier married Howard Jensen in June of 1941.10 The following year she was working in a drug store. In 1943, her husband was called up for service, and she joined the WAAC the following week.11

1946 found Jensen Frazier in Florida, obtaining a divorce from Jensen, and in October, she married Herman Frazier, who had served in the US Navy.12,13 The couple set up house in Pensacola, Florida where Frazier was stationed, though by 1950 the couple were living in Key West.14,15

By the 1960s, they were living in New Mexico where Jensen Frazier was once again able to use her musical talent, even joining the Musical Arts Club.16,17 This is also very likely when she became a member of the UNM Music Department as well as a member of the music fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota.18 Jensen Frazier also supported the Animal Humane Society.19

In the 1970s. Jensen Frazier was hitting her stride politically and she was one of the Republican Precinct Board Members for her voting district.20 She may have joined the Federated Republican Women at this time, though she was also inclined to support Democrats when she believed in them.21,22 Jensen Frazier also wrote often to the local paper about things she felt needed to be said.23 She was a Naval Auxiliary and a member of the local WAC Veteran’s Chapter as well.24

Though Jensen Frazier lost her husband in 1982, she didn’t slow down, becoming a volunteer member of the County Personnel Board.25,26 By 1988, Jensen Frazier was ready to run for office.27,28 Unfortunately, she wasn’t elected.29 In 1990, there was a bit of a scandal about the appointment of the county manager, and Jensen Frazier was in the thick of it.30 It led to some dissension in the Republican party, and she even volunteered to resign from the Federated Republican Women.31

Jensen Frazier had to slow down a bit in the 1990s after a hip replacement, but you can’t keep a WAAC down long.32 She was back in the fray defending an historical monument, getting a promise to rebuild after its destruction.33 She did live long enough to see the monument restored.34 Georgia Myrl Bray Jensen Frazier passed away on July 23, 2002.

Images & Documents

Frazier, Georgia Myrl Bray

“Georgia Myrl Bray Frazier.” Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17550043/georgia-myrl-frazier: accessed 14 August 2023), memorial page for Georgia Myrl Bray Frazier (27 Jun 1916–23 Jul 2002), Find a Grave Memorial ID 17550043, citing Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, USA; Maintained by Chris & Brett Clifton (contributor 47108133).

Georgia Myrl Bray Frazier

“Georgia Myrl Bray Frazier.” US Department of Veterans Affairs: Veterans Legacy Memorial. Retrieved: 14 August 2023. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/GEORGIAMYRLBRAYFRAZIER/3A76AD4

"Frazier, Georgia Myrl Bray obit." Albuquerque Journal, Jul 26 2002, sec D p 14

“Frazier, Georgia Myrl Bray.” Albuquerque Journal, Jul 26 2002, sec D p 14

Notes:

  1. The gravestone of RM1c Smith Brand gives her the rank of MN1c or Mineman 1st Class, but the family remembers her being in radio communications and she is listed as a former RM2c in the only contemporary source I have found, but the SFNC database has her as RM1c, so I have chosen to list her as a RM1c.

2 & 3. “US Navy Interviewer’s Classification Guide.” Naval History and Heritage Command. 20 July 2020. Official US Navy site.

4 & 5. “Brand, BJ.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 20 July 2007. sec D p 6.

  1. “Brand.” National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: American Falls, Power, Idaho; Roll: 2001; Page: 19; Enumeration District: 39-3. Their son was born in 1947, and no woman with a dependent could be in the WAVES. Once pregnant, a woman was honorably discharged, though it is equally likely that Smith Brand was released before her pregnancy.
  2. “Smith, Harlan.” Year: 1930; Census Place: Baker City, Baker, Oregon; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0004; FHL microfilm: 2341673.
  3. “Brand, BJ.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 20 July 2007. sec D p 6.
  4. “Harlan Smith Dies Here at 61.” Idaho State Journal. Pocatello, Idaho. 17 March 1958. p. 2.
  5. “Joseph N. Brand.” Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

11 & 12. “Brand.” National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: American Falls, Power, Idaho; Roll: 2001; Page: 19; Enumeration District: 39-3.

  1. “Beta Sigma Phi Pledges Attend Sorority Meeting.” Idaho State Journal. Pocatello, Idaho. 8 October 1950. p. 23.
  2. “Joseph N. Brand.” Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
  3. “Brand, Mrs. Barbara J.” The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series: A3496.
  4. “Around Town.” Idaho State Journal. Pocatello, Idaho. 13 November 1951. p. 11.
  5. “Brand, Barbara.” National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Series Title: Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving At Honolulu, Hawaii, Compiled 02/13/1900 – 12/30/1953; NAI Number: A4156; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 – 2004; Record Group Number: RG 85.

18 & 19. “Brand Norm Brand.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 5 January 2007. sec D p 7.

  1. “Brand, Barbara.” The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Series Title: Passenger and Crew Manifests of Airplanes Arriving At Newark, New Jersey; NAI Number: A4112; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2009; Record Group Number: 85.
  2. “Here from Germany.” Idaho State Journal. Pocatello, Idaho. 30 March 1958. p. 26.
  3. Both obituaries, for Smith Brand and her husband, note this.
  4. “Meet Norm Brand.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 15 February 1973. sec G p 4.
  5. Prather, Grace M. “One Dose Responsibility Two of Love Aid Youngsters.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 5 March 1972. sec B. p. 1.

25 & 26. “Brand, BJ.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 20 July 2007. sec D p 6.

  1. “Daughters of the American Revolution.” Albuquerque Tribune. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 18 October 2001. sec B p. 2.

28 & 29. “Brand, BJ.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 20 July 2007. sec D p 6.

  1. “Legals.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 16 September 1997. sec C p. 13.
  2. “Senior Olympics: Bowling.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 2 May 1996. sec D p. 2.
  3. “Brand Norm Brand.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 5 January 2007. sec D p 7.
  4. “Brand, BJ.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 20 July 2007. sec D p 6.

Compiled by: A. D. McLean, MA, MLIS. Central New Mexico Community College, retired 2022.

 

Featured Image:

“Frazier, Georgia Myrl Bray.” Albuquerque Journal, Jul 26 2002, sec D, p. 14