Jim A. Brown
Jan. 3, 1922-June 19, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 9:59 AM PDT
Ontario
Jim A. Brown was born Jan. 3, 1922, to Emma and Allen G. Brown. He attended school in Wicks and Taylor, Ark., and graduated in 1940. He married Martha Mae Norwood on Dec. 19, 1941, in Nashville, Ark.
In February of 1942, they moved to McNary, Ariz., where he worked with his family in the lumber industry until he joined the Navy in November of 1942. After attending corps training and boot camp in Great Lakes, he was stationed at the naval academy in Annapolis, Md., as a dental assistant for the cadets, and he was aboard the USS Mercedes. Martha accompanied him, and Judith Ann was born on Jan.17, 1944, at the naval hospital in Annapolis, Md. When Jim transferred to Hawaii, Martha and Judy stayed in DeQueen, Ark., and McNary, Ariz., until the war and Jim’s enlistment was over.
After Jim was discharged from the Navy, he leased a service station with Martha’s brother, Ernie, and his wife. Later, Jim bought a log truck to make a living. They bought their first house for $2,500.
Finally, Jim and family moved to Oregon, where Martha’s aunt and uncle had lived in Burns, Ore., in 1947. He was a lumber grader for 37 years and retired in 1984.
Jim and Martha became Sunday school teachers for the high school class at the First Baptist Church in Burns. Many of those they taught are now serving in the ministry.
Mary Lynn was born May 29, 1951, in Burns, Ore.
In 1957, they built the Dairy Queen in Burns with a partner but later bought out the partner and were sole owners until they sold it in 1962.
They were teaching a Sunday school class at the Baptist church in Hines and had boys from the Air Force base that attended. They opened their home to these boys who were away from home and needed a place to relax. As a result, many of these boys are serving the Lord today.
Survivors include: Mary and Ron Carter, daughter and son-in-law, Salem, Ore.; Judy Schaefer, daughter, Ontario, Ore.; Tabitha Burdine, sister, Dallas Texas; Maybelle and Roscoe Cook, sister and brother-in-law, Estancia, N.M.; grandchildren: Marley and Tammy Robinson, Carlin, Nev., Ron and Marcie Robinson, Summerville, N.C., Matt and Amber Schouviller, Portland, Ore., and Shawn Schouviller, Houston, Texas; and great-grandchildren, Jimmy, Tawsha, Kristen, Chelsey Emily, Taylor and Tyler.
Dad was truly a man of God. He was an example of Godliness to all who knew him. If you knew him, at some time in your time of knowing him, he prayed for you. His prayers were so simple, yet so meaningful and loving. He never failed to pray before a meal and was always thankful for what the Lord had provided. We were so fortunate to have him as our father.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 25, 2009, at Nyssa Baptist Fellowship. Interment will be at the Hilltop Cemetery, Nyssa, Ore.
Thank you to all of you who were such good friends to him.
— Judy Schaefer and Mary Carter.
Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.lienkaemper-thomason.com.
Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
