Friends, classmates and family of the legendary Cougar baseball coach Frederick Charles “Bobo” Brayton gathered Thursday morning to celebrate his mark on the community.

Concordia Lutheran Church held an open service after a procession through the WSU campus. Attendance at the service was so high, the church had to open auxiliary seating in its basement for a closed circuit screening of the funeral to be shown.

Following a series of prayers and readings of scripture, Brayton’s sons took the stage to share memories of their father, provoking tears of grief and laughter. People turned in their chairs to share tissues and stories of Bobo’s exuberance.

“I’m sure there will be tears today,” said Fritz Brayton, “but they won’t be of regret or sadness. As we leave here today, we go in peace.”

Brayton coached baseball at WSU for 33 years, and with more than one thousand victories under his belt, his values of hard work and vigor earned him 21 conference titles and a dozen NCAA postseason appearances. From 1962-1994, the Cougars under Brayton won 70 percent of their games and earned two trips to the College World Series, putting Cougar baseball on the map.

Pastor Dave Edler of Pullman Foursquare Church said when Bobo wasn’t on the baseball diamond, he was dancing with friends or singing to his wife, Eileen. He had nicknames for hundreds of students, and always had words to motivate.

“I can still hear Bobo in the box, yelling at me, ‘Make things happen!’” said Edler, who played baseball under Brayton in the 70’s.

He said Brayton had joked to his wife that the only game he had ever missed was the morning of his wedding, which he scrambled to make on-time.

“I think we can say with confidence that Bobo lived his life well,” Edler said. “A life full of legacy that goes on and on.”

After Edler had shared his words, the congregation sang Amazing Grace and clapped to the WSU fight song.

The crowd moved to Pullman Presbyterian Church for a reception, some rubbing their eyes, others embracing each other. The people exemplified how many described Bobo: welcoming and supportive.

Roger Merritt, class of 1967, compared Brayton’s coaching style to any one leisurely day spent fishing together.

“He used to say, ‘Never quit!’ even when the fish weren’t biting,” said Merritt.

Leroy Miller, another former player under Brayton, said he had a knack of making players feel welcome and appreciated. He cited a loss-preventing catch he made against California in 1967, after which Brayton would always greet him the same: “There goes Miller catching that ball!”

Brayton passed away on March 28 and will be laid to rest at the Pullman cemetery.