Gerald “Jerry” W. Brown

GERALD “Jerry” WAYNE BROWN

“Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 

Gerald “Jerry” Wayne Brown passed away on June 1, 2023 at the age of 87.   Born on August 2, 1935 in Mountain Grove, MO, he was the eighth out of ten children born to Leroy and Kathleen Brown. Jerry graduated from Mountain Grove High School in 1953 and continued on with his education at Manchester College in North Manchester, Indiana.  He received a bachelor degree in business and went on to take a job as an Accountant and later a Systems Analyst at Bendix/Allied Signal. He retired at the age of 51 and became a very busy handyman to many. Painting, fixing and repairing many things, mowing yards and helping many family members build their own homes filled his days following his retirement.

Jerry valued family relationships and friendships very highly and the legacy of his life tells that truth.  In the midst of his college years Jerry met the love of his life, Joy Selover.  They were married on August 25^th, 1956 and were happily devoted to one another for 66 years.  To their family tree was added three daughters and their husbands, eleven grandchildren and their spouses, and 46 great grandchildren. Gramps or Grampsy-poo, as his grandchildren called him, told wonderful stories of his growing up years and taught many valuable lessons to his children and grandchildren.  His one regret was that he wouldn’t live long enough to “see all the wonderful things his great grandchildren would do.”

Traveling around the United States in the RV with his brothers and sisters, family reunions with his siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins were events that he looked forward to with great happiness and would rarely miss. Jerry also enjoyed spending time with friends and family doing things like hunting, fishing, camping, golfing and working jigsaw puzzles. He loved his neighbors and enjoyed the company of many friends. 

Kind, smart, generous, resourceful, helpful and funny are all words that describe Jerry. His playful sense of humor was often on display and his jokes which were always on the tip of his tongue were met with much laughter and occasional eye rolls from his audience. He had a wonderful voice and he loved to sing.  His resourcefulness, helpfulness and generosity not only benefitted but were a wonderful example of goodness to many. He was a man you could count on.

Jerry leaves behind his daughters, Lori Peace, Elizabeth and her husband Kevin Bricker, Judi and her husband Bob Hausmann, 11 grandchildren and their spouses, 46 great grandchildren, his sister Mary Lovelady, his sister-in-law Pat and her husband Ken Arey, Sister-in-Law Verle Brown and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service for Jerry will be held at Strasburg Baptist Church, 503 West Mill Street, Strasburg MO 64090 on Saturday, June 17^th, 2023.  Visitation will begin at 12:00 followed by the memorial service at 1:00.  A meal will be served for all who wish to attend immediately following the service.