Gerald Raymond Brown

Gerald Raymond Brown, age 86, of Grants Pass, died Friday, January 27, 2012 at Three Rivers Community Hospital surrounded in love with his family.

A memorial service will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 11, 2012 at College Heights Baptist Church with Pastor Larry Brons officiating. Private interment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to American Legion Baseball, Attn: Rick Chapman, 311 SE 6th Street, Grants Pass, Oregon 97526 or Hidden Valley High School Baseball, 651 Murphy Creek Road, Grants Pass, Oregon 97527.

Jerry was born September 7, 1925 in Sterling, Illinois to John Brown & Laura (Gerringer) Brown. From 1944 to 1946 he served in the United States Army Air Force. On May 3, 1947 in Oregon, Illinois he married Madgeline Lillian Loy and that same year they moved from Rockford, Illinois to the San Diego area in California. In 1954 they moved to Murphy, Oregon onto 120 unimproved acres where they brought in electricity over one mile. They developed a 10,000+ chicken ranch that they delivered eggs both wholesale and retail for a number of years until a freeze wiped out the chickens. Jerry then worked as a home delivery milkman before starting a long haul trucking business. He came out of retirement from the trucking business to obtain his property management license to help his daughter in the property management business in 1999. He finally “retired” for good in 2005.

Jerry was a former member and deacon at Murphy Chapel and attended College Heights Baptist Church. During the late 70s and early 80s, he was also a member of a local Harley Davidson motorcycle club.

Jerry enjoyed bow hunting and watching his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren compete in their sporting events. For about five years in the 70s, Jerry and Madge enjoyed taking their five children and friends waterskiing every weekend between Memorial Day and Labor Day. During his vacation time he would take his family for week long trips to Lake Shasta and at one time had “5” skiers up behind the boat.

Jerry is survived by five children, Kathleen Martin and husband Larre of Corvallis, Oregon, Dennis Brown and wife Lisa of Lakeview, Oregon, Susan Houck of Trail, Oregon, Debra Maybee and husband Clint of Mad River, California, and Pamela Hurlburt and husband Paul of Grants Pass, Oregon; his twin sister, Irene Plummer of Cave Junction, Oregon; eight grandchildren, Mike McCornack, Ryan Wilson, Mitchell Brown, Tiffany Jubera, Krystal Cornell, Erin Rubin, Jake Sward, and Lindsey Lloyd; and seven great-grandchildren, Damion McCornack, Mikyla Freeman, Tevon McCornack, Haley Mae McCornack, Jadeyn Cornell, Colton Wilson, and Lexi Rubin.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Madgeline Lillian Brown who died exactly one year to the day before Jerry on January 27, 2011 and a grandson, Jesse Brown in 2002.