Moyle William Brown
April 28, 1928 - June 18, 2009

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 10:03 AM PDT

New Plymouth

Moyle William Brown, age 81, passed away peacefully at home in New Plymouth, Thursday, June 18, 2009. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 25, 2009, at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, New Plymouth, and from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. at the church, prior to services. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 26, 2009, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1st Ward, New Plymouth. Interment will follow at Park View Cemetery, New Plymouth. Condolences may be made to the family at www.shaffer-jensenchapel.com.

Moyle was born April 28, 1928, in Weiser, Idaho. He was the youngest of three sons born to Homer James and Veda Ellen (Anderson) Brown. He had many stories to tell of his days as a youth in Weiser. Swimming, hiking, mumble-d-peg, fishing and “frogging” were just a few activities that he really enjoyed with his brothers and friends. He said that it was great fun for them to catch frogs and have their mother cook the legs for them to eat. For fun, he and his brothers like to talk what they called “Double-Dutch.”

Moyle learned to sing, dance and play the piano at an early age. He was involved in many plays, operettas, recitals and other musical presentations while in his youth and throughout school. Moyle loved to roller skate. He was very limber and learned all kinds of moves and tricks while skating at the roller skating rink.

Moyle graduated from Weiser High School in 1946 and then from Brigham Young University with a degree in music. Moyle married Betty Johnson on July 28, 1948. At BYU, Moyle loved his opportunities to sing in touring groups and to sing leads in the operas. He wanted to sing grand opera but felt raising a family was more important. They had two daughters and six sons and only wished they could have had more. Moyle was a great father and loved having the grandchildren visit.

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After college, Moyle and Betty moved back to Weiser for a few years and then to New Plymouth where he taught for 36 years in the New Plymouth schools. Over those years, he taught vocal and instrumental music, drama and speech.

Moyle was loved and respected by his students. He touched many lives with his gift in music. He had a true gift for music interpretation, for seeing the potential in people and for being able to draw the music out of them. Moyle’s bands, choirs and drama class plays won many awards and trophies over the years. In 1978, his choir was invited by the head of the Reno International Jazz Festival to be a part of a three-week concert tour of Europe. This was a dream come true for Moyle, and he loved telling about all the wonderful experiences they had.

In 1981, he was honored by the mayor and the community with a “Moyle Brown Day.” He and Betty both received many honors from various community organizations around the valley over the years.

After retirement, Moyle conducted a community choir for several years, and he continued to lead the congregational singing each Sunday at church until about two years ago.

Moyle sang solos everywhere for weddings, graduations, funerals, parties, banquets, etc., throughout his life and was known for his outstanding voice. He also loved singing duets with Betty. After singing for his uncle’s funeral service in the Salt Lake City Tabernacle, the director of the Tabernacle Choir told Moyle that if he could commute each week, he could be a member of the Tabernacle Choir. Moyle was honored to have been asked and wished that he could have.

Moyle was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as the bishop of the New Plymouth Ward from 1960 to 1967. Moyle loved life and people. He was a friend to many. He enjoyed visiting with others, telling and playing jokes, laughing, kidding and just having a good time. He was a very caring and thoughtful man.

Manana, Mr. Brown.

Moyle is survived by a brother, Clark (Ruth) Brown, of Phoenix; a sister-in-law, Juanita Brown, of Oregon; his children, Jim (Chris) Brown, of Tennessee, Becky (Jamie) Mckenzie, of Boise, Theron (Pam) Brown, of Minnesota, Leisa (Ron) Beutler, of New Plymouth, and Bill (Kaylyn) Brown, of New Plymouth; 34 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren, with two on the way; sisters and brothers-in-law, Harriet Hart, of Utah, Mary (Bob) Chandler, of Weiser, and Wilford (Jeanette) Johnson, of Kuna; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Betty; brother, Denzel; sons, Brent, Kerry and Mike; daughter-in-law, Celeste; and granddaughter, Jennifer.