JAMES WALKER BROWN SR. HOULTON – James Walker Brown Sr., 94. Just four months shy of his 95th birthday, James Walker Brown Sr. left us for the last time. A husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, mentor, and friend, he left us unwillinglybut not before providing us with a lifetime of precious memories (his and ours), strong character lessons and a deep appreciation for the importance of honesty, integrity, civility, fairness and compassion in daily living. His deep love and respect for the natural environment honored the many farmers, seamen, loggers and fishermen in the first twelve generations of his families’ history in Maine.
In many respects, Jim brought a new dimension to the term family man. He had sincere reverence for those in his lineage who had preceded him, devotion to the family into which he was born and to the family he helped create, and great expectations for those younger family members who would follow him. Beyond that, he seemed to create new “family ties” later in life with unrelated individuals who spent any amount of time with him.
Much of his adult life was shaped and enriched by his years of service with the United States Navy in the Pacific Theater of Operations during WWII and by his 25 years of service with the Maine State Police from 1950-1975. Within the ranks of the Maine State Police, he became part of yet another family, one that knew no generational boundaries and which sustained him literally to his final days.
Jim was the eldest of six children born to Ruel Porter Brown and Madeline Hamiliton (Walker) Brown. As the eldest he experienced the ebb and flow of his family over a long period. He took great interest and joy, however, in watching his immediate and extended family grow and make new directions in life.
Jim’s life and memory will be cherished by Anna “Ann” (Greenlaw) Brown, his wife and partner of 69 years; sons, James “Jim” W. Brown Jr. and his wife, Sharon, Kevin P. Brown and his wife, Joan; 4 granddaughters, Allison Atkins and husband, Josh, Hannah Brown and Jim Gibson, Erin Snell and husband, Dave, Aimee Griffith and husband, Ian; a grandson, Nicholas “Nick” Brown. Jim took great delight in his great grandchildren Sadie, Xavier, and Sage Snell, Molly Griffith. He will be sadly missed by his brother Paul Brown and wife, Louise and sisters, Marilyn Brown and Nancy Hatch. He had a great love for his fifteen nieces and nephews. He deeply felt the loss of both parents; his sister, Barbara Andrews and her husband, Elmer; his brother, Francis “Bud” Brown and his wife, Lucille; brother-in-law, Linwood Hatch; nephew, Geoffrey Brown; father and mother-in-law, Arthur and Marion Greenlaw; sister-in-laws, Grace Morse Decker and Jean Barbour Decker.
Friends may call 1 – 2 p.m. on Monday, March 27, 2017, at the United Methodist Church, 57 Military Street, Houlton, where funeral services will be held 2 p.m. with Pastor Victor Han officiating. Spring interment will be in the Maine Veteran Cemetery, Augusta. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Maine State Trooper Foundation, 22 Meadow Road, Augusta ME 04330-4915. For an online memory book and to leave condolences please visit www.bowersfuneral.com
