Mark Brown: Jokester. Dedicated. Driven.

When we reflect on our father’s life, these are a few of the countless words that come to mind. He had many chapters in his life – some of which he shared with us and others we will only ever know the surface of. The constant that remains consistent from the origins of his adventurous youth to his transition into a family man is the extreme focus he lived his life with. That is what guided and drove him to build a better life for the family he loved deeply.

After Jennie was born in 1986, Mark attended the University of Arkansas where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He graduated in 1992 and took a position in Corpus Christi, Texas with Koch Refineries. Robert was born there in 1993 and the family eventually moved back to Arkansas to spend seven years living in Bryant, a small town outside of Little Rock. From there, he took a position which moved the family to the Portland metro-area which is where he happily called home the final 20 years of his life.

He was a dedicated father who always tried to do his best and be there for his children however he could. Although we didn’t always see eye to eye, we always found a way forward through difficult times. This collective growth brought us closer together and created a deeper understanding of one another.

There are many things we will miss about our father, but one thing that will be missed most of all is his sense of humor. You never knew what crazy comment would come out of him next, but you could always count on him to have one up his sleeve that would get you laughing. Throughout the adversity of life, he was always there to listen or offer advice… and, of course, drop a silly joke for comic relief.

One of Dad’s foundational beliefs was that “Everything arises and passes away.” Although his time with us has come to an end, we will still remember the compendium of his life and his character as a man. Together, we can all pay tribute to his spirit and carry it forward into the future through the values and memories he shared with each of us.

With all our love,

Jennie and Robert