This memorial was created in memory of our long time dear friend Lynn Brown, who left us suddenly at 12:20 am on January 2, 2014. We welcome you to join the family in a celebration of Lynn's life to be held on Saturday January 18th at ARF in Walnut Creek, 4-6pm. A true celebration with fond memories, stories and loving messages about how this tall strong redwood left an impression on our lives throughout his 64 years. We invite you to share your favorite photos on this site.
Ernest Lynn Brown, better known as Lynn, was born in Utah, March 15, 1949. Survived by his wife of over 44 years, Joyce Hodge Brown, daughters Rochelle Brown Robertson (Nick Robertson), and Jennifer Lynn Brown Peabody (Edwin Peabody III), and 2 loving apples of his eyes grandchildren Emily and Jillian Freeman, along with 9 grandpets (6 dogs 3 cats, 8 all from ARF), brother Paul Brown from Parker, Colorado, and sister Laura Berreth from Cooperopolis, along with several nieces and nephew. He worked for Safeway Stores, Inc for 30 years in Salt Lake City and the Private Label Brands Divisions, and then as a food broker with his own business. He was an avid sailor/racer and downhill skier, black diamonds all the way was his motto! He enjoyed many outdoor activities with family and friends including camping, beach outings, tropical vacations, backpacking as well as casino nights in the resorts and at home on the dining room table with his best friend and loving companion Joyce. For many decades he had a passion for photography, including his own darkroom prior to the digital age. Finding beauty in everything through the lens was a gifted talent of Lynn’s. There will be a Celebration of Lynn’s Life on January 18, 2014 at Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF). 2890 Mitchell Dr. Walnut Creek, CA from 4pm-6pm. The family prefers no mourning attire - they intend this to be a beached-theme celebration representing some of Lynn's most favorite places and things to do. Feel free to bring a favorite photo of Lynn for the family's memory board.
Donations are preferred and may be made to Tony LaRussa's ARF in Honor of Lynn Brown, and can be sent to the address listed or online https://secure3.convio.net/arf/site/Donation2;jsessionid=83442949C7A99D8E09D044EF17B74FE4.app367b?df_id=1840&1840.donation=form1
(Obituary Lynn Brown)
Sometimes in life you find a special friend, someone who changes your life forever just by being part of it.
Someone who
makes you laugh until you pee,
frustrates the heck out of you until you scream,
supports all your goals and dreams,
and has carved a space in your heart
That’s my special friendship with Lynn
Lynn stood 6’ and 6” --- me, 5’ and no inches. Although way different in measurement, and not related by blood, we had a relationship that was as close as a brother and sister. I was in Lynn’s life for 34 years and it all began back in the days when we both worked in the Safeway Brands Divisions. In the beginning we were involved with the Safeway Employees Association’s events – that’s where we first butted heads because we were both darn good at managing events. Me thinks that Lynn may have been a tad chauvinist in those old days and I too bossy for sure! So things got off to a bit of a rocky start. The tide quickly turned when we got on a ski hill and both of us saw “hey that gal/guy can ski!” --- and through the years we loved skiing together…. I’ve lost track of all the places we skied over the many years, and I will always remember the one I teased Lynn about the most. You see there were times in our long friendship that I would bust Lynn’s paradigms, and times when he would reel me in with my ideas. And then there were the times that we would – with all respect – bruise each other’s egos. Like the ski trip in Beaver Creek, Colorado --- Lynn has always been a very accomplished skier like Stein Erickson, and I was more like Suzie Chapstick. I challenged Lynn to a Nastar ski race that day and well, left him in smoke out of the gates while the course ended up at the resort’s bar patio where the world could see. Not to be outdone, on another trip to Aspen, Lynn took me down a fresh powder run where I found myself up to my chest in snow and unable to find my ski --- not a fun day for me, but a heck of a payback by Lynn for sure. Jeff, Lynn and I had intended to ski until we were the age that a free ticket would be given at Snowmass – Jeff & I will do our best to uphold that goal.
Our lives intertwined like a finely knit scarf….we played co-ed baseball together – Lynn was 1st baseman and I was 3rd base ---, I had a strong arm and could throw, and Lynn had long arms and could stretch 360 degrees to catch my balls. We even sat as Directors on the SafeAmerica’s Credit Union board for many years – and he remained as a Director with 16 years of volunteer services to the CU – a voice of reason that I’m sure will be missed. We were partners in crime planning events together like surprising Joyce with a fur coat for her birthday when we were in Aspen.
Jeff and Joyce would tell you that you could always find Lynn and I somewhere off to the side at a gathering eventually doing what we always did together – having deep meaningful discussions where we challenged each other. I loved that part of our friendship, the intellectual conversations, the spiritual discussions, and of course the discussions that involved us always planning the next thing we were going to do as couples. When Jeff came into my life, it was Lynn and Joyce I turned to for their opinion if this guy was a thumbs up or thumbs down. That was 19 years ago and who could have imagined that we would turn into the Fred & Wilma– Barney & Bette like the Flintstones --- it was a foursome that had a strong bond. We are all best buds, sisters and brothers and each other’s biggest supporter. I can’t even count how many vacations we’ve been on together, Halloween parties, New Year’s Eve’s, ab diving, camping, Renaissance Faires there just was always the expectation that we’d be going together.
As I reflect on the 34 years, I recall how it all started with a kiss --- a candy kiss. You’ll find them on the back table. At one time during our Safeway days, my cubicle sat on an aisle in front of Lynn’s, Don Jones and Paul Cruze. Those guys would sometimes get me in trouble because they would stick their heads over my partition and yak with me. Lynn though would reach his hand over and steal the candy kisses in my open candy bowl and talk about something interesting to the two of us.
I feel blessed to have had Lynn make the imprint he did in my life – and Jeff is equally grateful. The marriage of Lynn and Joyce’s has always been an example for us to look up to, and Joyce, we thank you for that.
(Lei to Joyce): Aloha au ia 'oe my love for you is deep as it was for Lynn my friend
And now, Jeff and I pulled together a collection of many pictures that we hope will reflect the wonderful life and times Lynn gave us during his 64 years.
This tribute was shown at the Celebration of Life Saturday January 18th.
This picture makes me think that through all the time I have known the Brown Family, through all the life struggles, triumphs and small things that build upon our lives, I am so blessed and so lucky to have them in my life story.
Look at me, I made it out the other end!
Thank you for blessing me with your encouragement, the wonderful example you set for me to follow and your mentorship.
Sending you love and light, always. Lisa
