Gerald Brown

Gerald H. Brown, 89, of Orange, Texas decided to go ahead on to Heaven the morning of April 21, 2022, surrounded by all of his children and quite a few of his grands and great-grands.

Predeceased by his truest love and wife of 60 years Adley Ann Harrington Brown, his parents, John H. Brown and Edna Cook Hiibel, sister Sharon Bailey, brother Gordon L. Brown, and son-in-law Marcus L. Dobbs, Gerald - known by those closest to him as "Jerry" and "Pop" - leaves behind a legacy including doting daughters Judy Brown and Janet Brown Dobbs of Orange, son and best friend Robert Brown and wife Karen of Six Mile Community, grandchildren Julie Mashaney and husband Paul of Little Cypress, TX, Thomas Brown, Cindi Gipson, both of Orange, Cliff Brown and wife Sarah of the Woodlands, TX, Luke Thurston and Katy Thraikille of Houston, TX, Jarek and Josie Viator of Woodbridge VA, and Stu and Gabi Thurston of Beaumont, fourteen great-grandchildren, brother Richard Bailey and wife Judy of Cincinnati, Ohio, cousin Sharon Parsons of Placentia, California and a host of special loved ones including Jenny Stidham, Brandon Brown, Ima Jean Harrison and Albert Lee Harrison and their families, Annie Nelson, Cydney Vasquez and Winters Crook.

Gerald was born in Inglewood, California on September 3, 1932. He graduated from Big Bear High School and joined the United States Air Force, where he served during the Korean War as SSGT with the Strategic Air Command and flew with his crew in a B-36 until he was honorably discharged to join a workforce that helped build our country in the 1950’s. He retired from US Steel, and immediately became an inspection consultant for Texscan Services until there were so many grandchildren and garden vegetables growing everywhere that he had to stay home to help Adley keep up.

Gerald was infinitely inquisitive and always had a project in the works, details of which he kept written on the many legal pads attached to clipboards and kept at the foot of his recliner. He kept a large garden and a small orchard for many years. His tomatoes and peaches were legendary, his bell peppers, cucumbers, beans and occasional eggplant the staple of most dinnertimes.

He bred, raised and raced homing pigeons with the Golden Triangle Pigeon Racing Club, where he earned countless awards and always kindly reminded you not to lick your fingers after you helped him clean the loft.

Most of his retirement though was spent in the life education of his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and anyone else who showed up on Memphis Street. Pop loved kids, he was a natural teacher, and he would stop whatever he was doing to go into great detail about the project before him. On any given day, you could find yourself learning about carpentry, construction, politics, current events, nature, entertainment, history, and genealogy. If you were especially small, he’d make up a story, read you a book, or sing you a song, but no matter what your age, you were probably going to leave with a copy of the Sunday "funnies" and two or three new "Pop" jokes - to be told at parties at your discretion.

Gerald always loved life at the lake, first with his camper full of grandkids on Toledo Bend and then later, after Adley passed, as a frequent guest in the lake house on Six Mile he helped his son build. He started just about every morning of his life with a cup of coffee, and you may have joined him at the Sportsman’s Cafe or Six Mile Marina.

Gerald’s love for learning and gift of gab is evident in the lives of his children, two of whom went on to be teachers and one who went to work in industry where he ended up a teacher anyway, and all of whom love to gather with the the continuing generations of his legacy to share the wit and wisdom in their many memories with Pop.

Visitation to begin Gerald’s memoriam will be held Friday, April 22 with a gathering of family only at 4 pm and open to all from 5-8 pm at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange, TX. Services will begin at 2:30 pm on Saturday, April 23 at Claybar Funeral Home with interment to follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.

Serving as Pall Bearers will be Paul Mashaney, Brandon Brown, Thomas Brown, Cliff Brown, Caleb Gipson, Josh Gipson and Robert Ramirez. Honorary Pall Bearers include Jarek Viator, Luke Thurston, Gabriel Gipson, Sam Mashaney, Elliott Brown, Isaac Brown and Jonah Mashaney.

The family would like to thank Misty and Laken with Harbor Hospice, and Kayla, April, Chris, Charlotte and Kristen with Southwest Texas Home Health and especially granddaughter Cindi Gipson, whose medical knowledge and constant care in his last days gave him and the family great comfort.

Loved ones are invited throughout the weekend to visit at the home of Paul and Julie Mashaney in Little Cypress.