John Alton "Jack" Brown

John Alton (Jack) Brown, age 89, passed away of natural causes Friday, November 7, 2014 at his home in Cave Junction, Oregon.

Jack was born October 17, 1925 in Kinistino, Saskatchewan, Canada. He is the son of Lawrence Otto Brown and Signe Linnea Kristina Anderson. He was the fourth in a family of seven children. He entered Prince Albert Collegiate Institute, grade 9, in 1939. Following the example of his older brothers, he enlisted in the Canadian Army in April 1942 and was shipped overseas into combat duty. In the 8th Canadian Recce, he landed on Juno Beach during the D-day invasion and fought through France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany until the end of the war. He returned home to finish his schooling. He married Mary Ellen Horsley in 1946 and had five children. He worked in management with Eaton’s of Canada for a number of years. He also became a pilot instructing in planes on wheels, floats and skis and instructed young Air Cadets. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He moved to Los Angeles and then New Mexico for business, returning home to Canada for a few years. He moved back to the United States where he married Valerie Hammer in Reno, Nevada on Sept. 12, 1977. They moved to Oregon in 1977 with their family of six children and settled in the Illinois Valley, where they have lived ever since. There Jack was well known in real estate and insurance sales. Jack was a faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was active in community service.

Jack was preceded in death by his brothers Gerald D. Brown and Lawrence T. Brown and a grandson, Charles Edward Beck.

Surviving are his siblings Orville C. Brown of Ottawa, Ontario; William C. Brown and Enid E. Taggart of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; Patrick Brown of Victoria, British Columbia; all of his children – Carol Beck, Washington; Lorraine Cook, Los Lunas, NM; Penny Scanlan, Queen Creek, AZ; Maureen Brown, Ponoka, Alberta; John K. Brown, Portland, OR; Steve Brown, Indianapolis, IN; Anne Britt, McMinnville, OR; Nora Bleiler, Smyrna, TN; Miriam Mumm, Nacogdoches, TX; Joanna Sedgwick, Kamiah, ID, as well as 48 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.

Burial will be at Laurel Cemetery Saturday, Nov. 15, followed by a memorial service at 1:00 PM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 208 S. Junction Ave., Cave Junction, OR. Bishop Larry Hammersmith will be officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Hull & Hull.

Jack blessed and enriched the lives of so many people. He will be greatly missed.