Glen E. Briscoe

Glen E. Briscoe, age 70, of O'Fallon, Missouri passed away on Monday, September 2, 2019. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri on November 11, 1948, to Charles and Nadine (Helen) Briscoe (nee Hancher).
Glen's life was a love story.
He mastered the flute and the clarinet, and played piano. For his college senior recital, he played "Mozart Clarinet in A Major;" it was the only recording ever kept at the Kansas City Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

He was a man of unusual intelligence. His mother said that as a child, he read the entire dictionary. If someone asked him how to spell a word or its meaning, he knew. His friends said he would give you the shoes off his feet.

Glen was drafted shortly after graduating from UMKC. While serving at Fort Monroe in Virginia, he was invited to become part of the Presidential Band. He declined, because he didn't want to do another tour of service. He was happy, however, to play clarinet in the Colonial Army Band.

But at the heart of Glen's life was the love of his family, beginning with his wife, Marilyn Veal.



LOVE ACTUALLY
They met when both were working at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She was a dietetic technician and Glen worked for Transportation Security.

Each night after work, Marilyn would call security to take her to her car. Glen eagerly obliged. One morning when Marilyn was off work, her car broke down. Luckily, Glen came along. In appreciation for his help, Marilyn invited him to an upcoming party. A friendship began.

When Marilyn continued her studies at nearby Kansas State University in Manhattan, she wasn't about to give up the study partner who helped her write and type papers. Glen had more than studying on his mind.

The first time he hugged her, Marilyn said she heard his heart beating. Glen was nervous, but not too nervous to soon ask her to marry him. She said "no."

Among Glen's many virtues was patience. Marilyn continued to make the trek back to study in Glen's Kansas City apartment where the windows were covered with trash bags to stifle the wind. They used heating pads to keep warm.

"The poor man didn't have very much money," she recalled.

After K-State, Marilyn moved to Philadelphia, where she found a job and lived with her sister, Rosie. Meanwhile, Glen earned his Bachelor's Degree in music. He promised himself that if he didn't make it
in the music business by the time he was 28, he would change professions.

Glen kept his promise to himself. He earned a certificate to become an electronic technician. He joined Marilyn in Philadelphia and worked nearly two decades as the sound system crew chief for the City of Philadelphia, ensuring that political rallies and special events went off without a hitch. One of his prized projects was the extravagant New Year's Day Mummers Parade.

In his spare time, he wrote music and played in Frank Jackson's big band.

Glen again asked Marilyn to marry him. Her sister Rosie advised her to do so, noting that Glen "was a settled type of guy." He took her to meet his parents on their farm in Bronson, Kansas; they liked her.

This time, Marilyn said "yes." They were married on September 8, 1984.



Glen, whose gentleness was matched only by his confidence, assured Marilyn that he did not care whether she changed her name. He was not concerned whether they had children, whether they were boys or girls, or what their names would be. But no father could have been more proud, more dedicated or loved his children more deeply than Glen did Joseph, Justin, and Joshua.


CARING FOR MISS ROSIE

In 2005, Marilyn returned to St. Louis to care for her mother and Glen soon followed. He worked part-time for many years for Production Sound & Lighting Support.

And for 12 years, Rosie Bell Veal lived in his home. After his parents died in the late '90s, Glen told Miss Rosie "you are my mama now."

"He's a good man," Miss Rosie often said.

From setting up her breakfast table each morning to taking her to clinic appointments, for 12 years Glen lovingly and without complaint helped care for his mother-in-law.

His musical tastes ran to jazz, opera and Gregorian chants, but he made mixtapes of the likes of George Strait and Merle Haggard for Miss Rosie, the country music fan.

MIGHTY FINE

One of Glen's musical idols was tenor jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins, who, like Glen, believed his music was his meditation. He played all the time and his music was a beautiful reflection of his equally beautiful soul.
He indulged his love of opera, an art that often lulled his wife to sleep. Among his favorites were "Madama Butterfly" and Mozart's "Don Giovanni."

He was baptized when he was seven. Later in life, he attended St. Gabrielle Episcopal Church in Philadelphia.

In anticipation of going on a European vacation, Glen recently began studying French. (Marilyn became sick and they had to cancel the trip.) He always had new home improvement projects in the works.

Forever maintaining ties to his musical profession, Glen was a member of the Musicians' Association of St Louis and the International Clarinet Association.

He was a quiet man, soft-spoken and not easily riled. When things were going particularly well, he'd exclaim "Mighty fine!"

One of the few areas where Glen drew the line was at the adoption of more pets – when their five dogs outnumbered their children.


THREE SCORE AND TEN

Glen Edward Briscoe was born November 11, 1948, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was the middle child of Nadine (Helen) Briscoe (nee Hancher) and Charles Everett Briscoe's three children.

He graduated from Southwest High School, also the alma mater of former St. Louis Rams linebacker, Mike Jones, the man who saved the 1999 Super Bowl.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Charles Everett Briscoe Jr. and Charles' wife and son, Barbara and Jason Briscoe, and his brother-in-law Larry Polson.

Among those he continues to watch over are his wife of 35 years, Marilyn Veal; sons, Joseph Michael Ilia Veal-Briscoe (and spouse Crissaunda), Justin Charles Steven Veal-Briscoe, and Joshua Kennedy Alexander Veal-Briscoe, all of O'Fallon, Missouri; his sister, Marjiann Polson of Kansas City; a cousin, Carol Ann Stone of New York City; nieces and nephews, Jennifer MacDonald, Janice Hawkins, Richard Lee Webb, Jeffrey Webb and Steven Webb.

Glen will be greatly missed by every member of the Briscoe and Veal families, as well as numerous other family members and friends.


Eulogy for Glen Edward Briscoe

Glen was a quiet man, with a strong backbone and strong shoulders. But, when he says something he means it especially to his children. Dad was a kind man. Glen would give the shoes off of his feet, not that he had to do that, but because he would want to.
Anytime I asked him to do something, he did it without complaint with a smile on his face. He did it to make his wife happy.
Just the sheer mention of making his family happy or extended family happy made his heart flutter with joy. Marilyn's family was his family too. He enjoyed being around them.
When his wife, Marilyn decided to stay in St. Louis, MO, to take care of her mother. Glen gave up his job of 20 years to be by her side. Once in St. Louis he realized the educational system was much better for his boys. No matter what transpired, he was there to see it through to the end of the process.
He never raised his voice or hit the boys. Often, he read the boys bedtime stories when they were younger. Glen got a degree in Music. He and his wife would take the boys to their piano lessons on the weekends. He taught them how to read music notes and how to play the piano. Not only was Glen a great musician, he was a very intelligent and well-read person. He also spoke French.
Glen participated in the boys' homework and special projects even when the boys thought he was getting on their nerves.
He was at the parent teacher meetings so much that one of the teachers thought he was a student.
After working long hours at work, he would come home and make sure that the boys did their homework.
Glen was overjoyed at getting a daughter in law, Crissy thank you for joining our family.
Our neighbor, Cynthia Austin from Philadelphia says that Glen told her on numerous occasions, he loved his wife and that wife he would go to the moon and back for her. He would marry her all over again if he had to do it again. He wouldn't let anyone criticize her. He wouldn't even let her criticize her. He would say, "don't talk about my woman."
He would tell Cynthia that he always gives his wife, Marilyn something on their anniversary. The only thing he wanted was Marilyn's love.
Everything has a divine order. God was making a plan for our lives.


I want to thank God that he brought you into my life and world. Glen, you have brought so much happiness into my life. My life would have been empty without you. You have become my closest dearest friend, someone I could share things with. Someone who didn't judge me and best of all you gave me three wonderful sons: Joseph, Justin, and Joshua.
If I had one moment in time. I wish I had one more chance to hug you and tell you how much I love you and how much you meant to us. It hurts too much now to think that you are not here with us. You left me with three beautiful boys who have your spirit in them. I wont say goodbye because you are in our hearts and our spirit. You always said we will get through this, and we did. Glen, my family loved you. They knew you were a good person. I didn't have to say a word about you. When I told you something, it was out of love. I wanted you to take care of yourself. But in time, I will smile again. I had a good person, father, and partner who loved me deeply. I will take comfort knowing that you are here in spirit with us.
I will always love you from the deepest part of my heart.

To Our Family and Friends

I want to thank Sister Cynthia Austin for helping to write the eulogy and obituary.
I want to thank John and Marie Fultz for all that you have done for me. For letting me stay with your family until I went off to college.
I want to thank my sister Rosie for giving me advice to marry Glen. She is always giving me advice that sometimes makes me cringe. But I do listen.
I want to thank my big brother Joseph who was there to comfort me when our father and most recently when our mother died. He calls me frequently. It is hard to get off the telephone with him. I really appreciate your comments, brother.
I want to thank all my brothers for their love and support.
I want to thank Antonio, Angelo, and Lionel for coming out to our house to clean. Also, many thanks for Antonio and Angelo for going out to Philadelphia with Glen last year to make our house ready to sell.
I want to thank Steven, who has been there for us. I really appreciated your support, generosity, and uplifting inspirational advice.
I want to thank Brother Kenny for your kindness and your conversation that we've shared together. I also thank Minh for her kindness too.
I also thank Johnny and Lonnie for your support.
I want to thank my other sister, Naomi, for your love and support.
I want to thank Carol, Marjiann, Jenny, and Jeff for coming for Glen's home coming.
You are all a part of our family too. Glen liked the closeness of our family. He was a man, brother, father, and uncle. We are all one family.
I want to thank my three sons, Joseph, Justin, and Joshua Veal-Briscoe, who have stood in for their father. He is proud of you all as well as I am.
I want to thank Crissy, my daughter in law for her care, love and protectiveness of her mother in law.
I want to thank the Hitchye family for their help.
I want to thank all of those who knew and loved Glen for their kindness. Thank you, Ruby, for your support, Lynnette – sister in law for your singing, Sierra, many nieces and nephews for support and love. Pastor Moses, Cynthia, Marsha, Bob Wellons, Little Josh, MichaelAngelo, Shawn, Jessica, Yolanda, Raven, Shanai, Tammy, Tyler, Madonna, Mary Veal, sister in law, Vicky, Leonard, and many other friends and family. Sorry if I didn't mention everyone's name—you know who you are.
I know that Glen loved all of us. He wasn't ready to leave. He had made notes of things that he had to do like upcoming doctors' appointments that were left in the house.
Glen, you can rest now. You did your job. You have my love that you always wanted. Forever my love.
We must let you go and rest. We will see you later.
Your beloved wife and partner,
Marilyn

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