Thomas Brown
November 13, 1927 — November 3, 2015
Thomas Brown
Thomas Maurice Brown of Fairfield Bay AR passed away Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at the age of 87. Tom, or Sparky as he was known from childhood, was born in Gold Dust, Tennessee on November 13, 1927 to Willie Clyde and Maggie (Stone) Brown. Sparky was married on August 1, 1947 to India Olean Layne, and they enjoyed 66 years of marriage prior to her passing in June of 2014.
In addition to his wife Olean, Sparky was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers John, Wilford, Bill and Hugh Lewis, his sister Ann and his beloved son-in-law Wayne Holland. Sparky is survived by his children and their spouses, John (Jerilyn) Brown, Amy Holland, David (Susan) Brown and India Jane (Rustan) Leino, his sisters Reba (Pete) Echeverria and Janie (Chuck) Ackerman, and his sisters-in-law Peggy Brown and Betsy (Harold) Osborne. Sparky is also survived by his "adopted" sons Tony Goebel and Dale (Susan) Speetzen.
Sparky and Olean have ten grandchildren, of whom they were very proud: Christy Herrera, Scott (Stacey Eacott) Holland, India (Kentaro) Sekiguchi, Solon (Shiun Chien "Jessica" Hii) Brown, Sarah (Brandon) Arcement, Warren (Elyse) Brown, Mattias Leino, Klas Leino, Yannika Leino and Katrina Leino. Sparky and Olean also have twelve great grandchildren: Stephan, Aaron and Gabriel Herrera, Tivoli and Soleil Holland, Sakura, Takahiro and Kaede Sekiguchi, Sydney and Sloane Arcement, and Thomas and Evelyn Brown. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, in both the Brown and Layne families.
Sparky meritoriously served more than 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, and was stationed from North Africa to Viet Nam. Upon retiring from the Air Force he obtained a Bachelors Degree in French and Spanish from Angelo State University. He taught French and Spanish at McCallum High School in Austin Texas, where he was also the golf coach. He obtained his Master's Degree in French and Spanish from Texas State University while teaching in Austin. Sparky and Olean lived in Austin for 29 years before moving to Fairfield Bay AR in 2000. Sparky enjoyed his retirement by playing as much golf as possible, volunteering at his church and traveling with Olean to places near and far.
Thomas Maurice Brown was a kind, gentle man who had a great sense of humor. He and Olean encouraged their children to spread their wings and to fly to see the world and what it could teach them. He was a man of integrity and unlimited love for family and friends alike.
Sparky's ashes will be placed alongside his beloved Olean in the columbarium at Peace Lutheran Church in Edgemont AR, where they were active members of the congregation. A private family memorial service will be held at a date to be determined later.
Sparky graciously and bravely fought Alzheimer's disease for over ten years. The family is grateful for the kind souls who gently took care of him over the last four years of his life.
Cremation arrangements by Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home. www.SmithFamilyCares.com
In addition to his wife Olean, Sparky was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers John, Wilford, Bill and Hugh Lewis, his sister Ann and his beloved son-in-law Wayne Holland. Sparky is survived by his children and their spouses, John (Jerilyn) Brown, Amy Holland, David (Susan) Brown and India Jane (Rustan) Leino, his sisters Reba (Pete) Echeverria and Janie (Chuck) Ackerman, and his sisters-in-law Peggy Brown and Betsy (Harold) Osborne. Sparky is also survived by his "adopted" sons Tony Goebel and Dale (Susan) Speetzen.
Sparky and Olean have ten grandchildren, of whom they were very proud: Christy Herrera, Scott (Stacey Eacott) Holland, India (Kentaro) Sekiguchi, Solon (Shiun Chien "Jessica" Hii) Brown, Sarah (Brandon) Arcement, Warren (Elyse) Brown, Mattias Leino, Klas Leino, Yannika Leino and Katrina Leino. Sparky and Olean also have twelve great grandchildren: Stephan, Aaron and Gabriel Herrera, Tivoli and Soleil Holland, Sakura, Takahiro and Kaede Sekiguchi, Sydney and Sloane Arcement, and Thomas and Evelyn Brown. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, in both the Brown and Layne families.
Sparky meritoriously served more than 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, and was stationed from North Africa to Viet Nam. Upon retiring from the Air Force he obtained a Bachelors Degree in French and Spanish from Angelo State University. He taught French and Spanish at McCallum High School in Austin Texas, where he was also the golf coach. He obtained his Master's Degree in French and Spanish from Texas State University while teaching in Austin. Sparky and Olean lived in Austin for 29 years before moving to Fairfield Bay AR in 2000. Sparky enjoyed his retirement by playing as much golf as possible, volunteering at his church and traveling with Olean to places near and far.
Thomas Maurice Brown was a kind, gentle man who had a great sense of humor. He and Olean encouraged their children to spread their wings and to fly to see the world and what it could teach them. He was a man of integrity and unlimited love for family and friends alike.
Sparky's ashes will be placed alongside his beloved Olean in the columbarium at Peace Lutheran Church in Edgemont AR, where they were active members of the congregation. A private family memorial service will be held at a date to be determined later.
Sparky graciously and bravely fought Alzheimer's disease for over ten years. The family is grateful for the kind souls who gently took care of him over the last four years of his life.
Cremation arrangements by Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home. www.SmithFamilyCares.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Thomas Brown, please visit our flower store.
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