Hope Bragg
Hope (Pruden) Bragg, age 51, formerly of Monticello, Arkansas and born in Livonia, Michigan, died suddenly in a house explosion on Saturday, December 30, 2023. She was a graduate of Whitmore Lake Secondary School in 1991 and received her BS in Forestry from Michigan Technological University in 1995. While in school she met fellow Forestry student Don Bragg, marrying him in 1996. She received her MS from Utah State University in 1999 and worked at the University of Arkansas in Monticello from 2000 to 2002. She received her masters of education from the University of Arkansas in 2001 and was close to completing her doctorate at the time of her passing.
Hope was employed as a County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development from 2013-2018, eventually taking a new position as Instructor of 4-H Youth Development at Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service from 2018 to present. Hope helped develop STEM-based 4-H curriculum that was engaging for kids and received several rewards for her innovative work.
During this time, she also became mother to three children, who were at the center of her life: Kenneth (Kenny) age 22, Elizabeth (Beth) age 19, and Stephen, age 16. The family were active members of St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Monticello and Hope had been Vice President of the Arkansas Archeological Society since 2013. She was a Cub Master and active participant in all her children’s and husband’s activities. The adventures of “Bragg Family South” took them across the country numerous times, visiting state and national parks, Catholic churches, historic sites, and interesting restaurants along the way. Hope was very mechanically inclined and could operate a chainsaw as easily as she could run a piece of heavy equipment, assemble furniture, or do a DIY repair. She was generous, helpful, and her inclusive nature set an example for others. As a family (and they were together every chance they got) they were generous, helpful, brainy, loving, and fun.
Joined in death by her husband, Don, as well as children Kenny and Beth, who also died in the house explosion; her mother, Ann (Hoffer) Pruden; and her grandparents, Donald and Kathryn Pruden. Hope is survived by her son Stephen; father Richard Pruden; aunts Diane Pruden and Kathy Clark (Gary); and uncles David Pruden (Mary Ann), Douglas Pruden (Brenda, deceased), and Kevin Pruden (Sandy); great-aunt Patricia (Riedel) Sweet; as well as cousins and many good friends who felt like family.
Funeral arrangements have not been made yet. If desired, friends and family may make memorial contributions to the GoFundMe sites set up for the survivors: (https://gofund.me/d32eff21 and https://gofund.me/a66542b0). The family would like to thank friends and relatives across the country for their condolences and support.