Cephas William Bryan

Cephas W. Bryan, age 86, of Graford, Texas, passed away Thursday, December 25, 2025, at Medical City Weatherford Hospital.

Cephas was born December 17, 1939, in Princeton, Illinois, the son of Finley and Mary (Tobin) Bryan. He spent his school years in San Bernardino, California, and his summers in New Bedford, Illinois.

Cephas enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1957. During his military career, he attended colleges on various Air Force bases. He married Rachel DeSkeere on May 16, 1959, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Princeton, Illinois. During their 66 years of marriage, they traveled extensively and lived in ten states and two foreign countries. Cephas was sent to Indiana University where he earned a degree in Finance and later attended Officer Candidate School, earning his commission as an Air Force officer.

Cephas served 22 years in the Air Force with two Military Occupational Specialties. He began and concluded his career in Finance and spent eight years as a Special Agent with the Office of Special Investigations. He retired from military service with the rank of Captain. Following his military retirement, he continued his career working with the Air Force Audit Agency.

After retiring from the Audit Agency, Cephas and Rachel enjoyed many years traveling to visit their children and grandchildren who lived across multiple states. He was a faithful member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Graford, Texas.

Cephas is survived by his four sons: Kevin (Lynn) Bryan of Los Angeles, California; Shawn Bryan of Graford, Texas; Timothy Bryan of Phoenix, Arizona; and Daniel (Keiko) Bryan of Tacoma, Washington. He and his late wife Rachel were blessed with twelve grandchildren: Shawn (Mallory) of Aurora, Colorado; Leigha of Aurora, Colorado; Christopher of Aurora, Colorado; Joshua of Palmdale, California; Shannon (Hayle) of Palmdale, California; Caitlin of Las Vegas, Nevada; Austin (Paula) of Phoenix, Arizona; Rachael (Woody) of Phoenix, Arizona; Kenneth of Seattle, Washington; Anthony of Portland, Oregon; Kade of Edmond, Oklahoma; and Seth of Granbury, Texas. He is also survived by fourteen great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Rachel Bryan; his parents; and his daughter, Dolores (Jeff) Phillips.

Viewing and funeral services will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Graford, Texas. Burial will be private at Dallas–Fort Worth National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Cephas’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.