Raymond Glenn Brown

Raymond Glenn 'Ray' Brown was born on Sunday, December 30, 1917, in Falls City, Nebraska. He was the son of Elza Ray and Lena M. (Wells) Brown Bennett. Ray lived in Paola, Overbrook, Emporia, and Osawatomie, all in Kansas, and Clinton and Harrisonville, both in Missouri, moving to Ottawa in Franklin County, Kansas, in 1966, where he made his home until his death on Thursday, June 22, 2006, at the age of eighty-eight years. Ray graduated from Baldwin City High School with the class of 1936. For much of his professional life, he was associated with Lester Moore GM dealerships in Kansas and Missouri. From 1967 to 1971, he was a pilot for LeMaster Aerial Spraying. From 1971 to 1978, he owned and operated Ray Brown Ford, retiring in 1980. Mr. Brown served as a Rifle Sharpshooter in the United States Marine Corps from June of 1945 to April of 1946. He was honorably discharged as a Private First Class. He was a member of Emporia Methodist Church; Ottawa Lodge #18, A.F. & A.M., fifty years; and Ottawa Lodge #803, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, forty-five years. Ray was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt mushrooms and gather berries, nuts and wild asparagus which added to his enjoyment of cooking out and eating. In fact, he had one favorite bumper sticker, 'Are their fried taters in Heaven'. He enjoyed taking long rides in the country, especially, traveling through the Flint Hills of Kansas. Very few people liked cars as much as he, which is probably why he loved being an auto dealer and salesman. Ray had a wonderful sense of humor and a nickname for almost everyone, whether they liked it or not. He was loved and respected by many. On February 4, 1940, Ray was united in marriage with Mary Fyock in Baldwin City, Kansas. She survives of their home. He is also survived by his son, Raymond James 'Jim' Brown and his wife, Betty, of Lafayette, California; three daughters, Glenene Marie Brown of Winchester, Virginia, Sheryl Ann Crawford and her husband, Rick, of Ottawa, Kristie Lynn Jessop and her husband, Brad, of Sulphur, Oklahoma; four sisters, Gladys 'Peg' Viertl and her husband, Herb, of Winter Haven, Florida, Gladys Devlin of Chevy Chase, Maryland, Lucille Ames of Dallas, Texas, Betty Schuh and her husband, Al, of Topeka, Kansas; two brothers, Harold Bennett and his wife, Judy, of Ottawa, Francis Bennett and his wife, Eloise, of Williamsburg, Kansas; seven grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren. Mr. Brown is preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, William F. 'Will' Bennett; and sister, Alice Killgore. SERVICES: Graveside services will be held at Highland Cemetery in Ottawa at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 26, 2006. IN STATE: Friends may pay their respects to Mr. Brown at the Dengel & Son Mortuary after 3:00 p.m. Sunday to the service hour, where the family will meet with friends from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday prior to processing to Highland Cemetery. The casket will remain closed. CEMETERY: Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, Kansas. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorials to Franklin County Cancer Foundation, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.