George Wesley Brown

Life is very much like a beautiful garden or professional landscape.  We are all born into a set patch of ground, but from there, we decide what that ground will look like.  We can pull up the weeds or let them keep growing.  We can remove rocks or use them to our advantage.  We can fertilize and water the ground to ensure that the place will thrive, or we can rely upon others to make the world around us beautiful.  In the garden of life, we have the spade and the talent in our hands; it just takes imagination and drive to make something nice look even more beautiful and special not only to us, but those who will come after us.  George Brown, Jr. cultivated his life with love, joy, and laughter.  His heart and smile radiated a special legacy for his family, friends, and all who were blessed to know him.

During a cold Thursday, on February 26, 1931, a little boy was born to his parents, George and Molly Brown in Thornwood, West Virginia.  Named after his father, George Wesley Brown, Jr. grew up amongst towering trees and rolling hills with his hard-working family.  With bare feet and suspenders, George worked around his childhood home and helped his family wherever he could.  George worked as a lumber jack with Graves & Moore Lumber Company to make money for his family.  However, George took another step to not only help his family, but also his country.  On April 13, 1948 at the age of 17, George left his childhood home to enlist in the United States Air Force where he served his country for three years as part of the 2996th Air Police Squadron.  Shortly after George came back home from his service with the Air Force, he met the love of his life, Lorene Roberts.  He asked Lorene to marry him, and shortly after, George and Lorene became husband and wife in a small ceremony at chapel on February 18, 1955.  Together, George and Lorene had six beautiful children.  George supported his family through his job as a landscaper.  He worked with the ground and various plants, just as he had as a child.  He got to the point to where he could name just about ever tree, shrub, and plant.  He was very gifted at his job as he moved his family to Dallas, Texas.  Despite moving to Texas, George always said he would move back to his beloved and beautiful West Virginia if he could make a living there.  George was known for being a very hard worker who always seemed to be busy.  However, George was never too busy to sow smiles into his children with his good sense of humor, grow memories with his family through trips to the lake, or nurture his love for his wife through his words.  He never let work get in the way of living and thriving within his own life. 

George had many passions throughout his life that gave him so much joy and pleasure.  George liked to take trips to the lake to swim with his family.  After a long day in the sun, whether from swimming or working around the house, he also liked to grill in his iconic Beachnut hat and eat T-Bone steaks.  Eggs were another particular favorite of George’s.  When George wasn’t outside, he enjoyed watching TV shows like Jimmy Swagger and different westerns.  Some of his favorite western actors included Fuzzy St. John, Gabby Hayes, and John Wayne.  George also liked to listen to Country music and Gospel music.  While working outside or sitting on the couch inside, George was followed by his loyal dogs.  He loved beagles and owned several dogs.  His family lovingly called him the “Dog Whisperer” due to his affinity to dogs.  George eventually grew to like cats as well later in life.  Some of his favorite pets included Brown Dog, Jimmy, and Missy Blanche.  Although his dogs seemed like members of the family, George’s greatest passion was his children, grandchildren, and his wife.  He liked to tease his children and grandchildren, and he came up with nicknames for several people in the family.  He lovingly called Lorene “Frog,” and his grandchildren called him “Papoo.” George loved his family so deeply.  Everything he did, he did it with the intent of serving and providing for his family.  Along with his family, George’s other great passion in life was his relationship with his Lord.  He and his family were members of Pentecostal churches both in West Virginia and Dallas, Texas.  George’s faith in the Lord impacted many who met and knew him.  As George’s favorite bible verse states, George “fought the good fight, [he] finished the race, [he has] kept the faith” and “there is laid up for [him] the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, [has awarded] to [him] on that Day, and not only to [him] but also to all who have loved [Jesus’s] appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8 ESV).

To the sorrow of George’s family, George completed his race on Friday, May 25, 2018 in Dallas, Texas.  His legacy and memory have been instilled in the hearts and minds of so many including his beloved family and friends.  George Wesley Brown, Jr. is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lorene Brown; his loving children, Peggy Cortez, Deborah Snapp, Susan Mitchell and her husband, Robert, and David Brown and his wife, Amy; his grandchildren, Roger Cortez, Roberta Orozco, Ryan Snapp, Jerry Callison, Jr., Christian Brown, Robert Mitchell, Jr., Garrett Brown, Sarah Brown, and Brady Ingram; his 14 great-grandchildren; and his one great-great-grandchild.  George Wesley Brown, Jr. is preceded in death by his parents, George Wesley Brown, Sr. and Molly Blanche Brown; his son, George Brown III; his daughter, Connie Brown; and his granddaughter, Rosa Garcia. 

A visitation for Mr. George Brown, Jr. will be held on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Hughes Family Tribute Center.  The funeral service for Mr. George Brown, Jr. will be conducted on Thursday, May 31, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Hughes Family Tribute Center.  Mr. George Brown, Jr. will be laid to rest in Crown Hill Memorial Park immediately following his funeral service. 

George Wesley Brown, Jr. impacted so many through his love, his humor, his hard work, and through his faith.  His life and his love will be remembered by all those who were so blessed to know him and experience his warm heart.