Obituary of Jerry W. Brown

Jerry W. Brown, Sr. Jerry W. Brown, Sr. born Sept. 26, 1934, Seminole, OK~ passed away Nov. 23, 2009. Tacoma, WA Jerry came to Washington as a small child. He was raised on the Olympic Peninsula in a logging family that grew to include 10 children. After graduating from Port Angeles High School he married Yvonne Watts. Their path led to Southeastern Alaska and produced four children. Jerry was a top timber cutter there for 15 years. With children in their early teens Jerry moved his family back to Washington. He bought Madrona Beach Resort on Camino Island and Twin City Bowling Lanes in Stanwood where he acquired his great love for the sport. For the rest of his life he participated in several leagues and developed many friends as a result. The early 70's brought many changes and eventually a new wife and two more little daughters. During this time Jerry had many of his logging poems published. Two songs he wrote were recorded in Nashville. He was one of the founding members of the Washington Folklife Council. For the next 30 years Jerry and Pam owned and operated Custom Shirt Shop. Starting in North Bend, expanding to Auburn and Puyallup and settling permanently on South Tacoma Way. Fifteen of those years they also had Dande Co., Awards. At one time or another most of the people in the family worked in the businesses. He was a charter member of The South Tacoma Business District. After selling the businesses by 2005 he retired to his home woodshop and continued his writing. Jerry spent his whole life taking the responsibility of being a big brother very seriously. He held family above all. He was a "genuine, good man" with a heart of gold. Jerry was predeceased by: father Ona; mother Sarah (Macfarland); brothers Ronald, Sr., Richard, and Joe and grandson John. Left to mourn his passing are: wife Pamela; brothers Ed, Lloyd and Bill; sisters Barbara, Ona "Jean" Jones and Jennie; sons Jerry "Wayne", Jr. and Charley (Sherry); daughters Janet (Heath) Dubuque, Sara "Diane" (Steve) Hall, Jessie Brown and SkyAnn (Chad) Morgan; grandchildren Jerry W. (Adrian), Ryan (Robyn), Trisha (Gabe) Thompson, Mitchell Hogan, Casey Allis, Chris (Gina) Allis, Tiffany, Kenny and Michelle, Sarah (Gene) Martin, Joe Hall, Shane (Kendra) Shackley, Jade Morgan and Avery Morgan; great grandchildren Georgia Ann, Jerry Michael, Ethan, Jude, Dylan Thompson, Mia Thompson, Cory Allis, Angel Allis, Austen Griffin, Damian Martin, Candice Burks, Tanner, Zane Nored and expecting another next April. Also of great importance in Jerry's life are numerous nieces and nephews and his long time friend John Walker. A celebration of Jerry's life will be held at Piper-Morley-Mellinger Funeral Home 5436 So. Puget Sound, Tacoma (472-3353 on Saturday November 28, 2009, 11 a.m.