Jim R. Brown

Jim R. Brown, 78, passed away at his home in Ira on Tuesday, September 12th, with his wife and his son by his side.

He was born to James W. and Opal Brown on October 25, 1938 in Pampa, Texas. His family moved to the Ira community in 1940’s, where Jim graduated from Ira High School in 1956. Thereafter he attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock to study agricultural science.

Before completing his studies, Jim took time off from college to serve proudly in the Navy, and he was stationed first at Corpus Christi, then Pensacola. Thereafter he returned to Tech to complete his degree, and just prior to graduating he married Janet Bell on August 10, 1963.

Newly married, Jim tried his hand at teaching, but was shocked to learn he was expected to teach spelling. Never one to dwell on mistakes, he quickly took a job with United States Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance and settled in Lubbock. There they adopted their son Thomas in 1967, and thereafter his work took him to Colorado, Wyoming and eventually Scottsbluff, Nebraska, where he enjoyed the wide-open spaces, which reminded him of Texas.

But Jim was unable to resist the allure of Scurry County, and in 1974 he returned to Ira, where he remained for the rest of his life. He ran the family farm for many years, and later managed a travel agency in Snyder. He traveled a great deal during those years, seeing much of continental U.S. and also places as far afield as Hawaii and London. Not satisfied unless he was productively working, he was later employed by the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation until he was well into his 70s.

Jim’s life was one of service, as evidenced by the many organizations he served: He was a member of the school board at Ira, a session member and elder of the First Presbyterian church in Snyder, an active member of the Snyder Chamber of Commerce Gold-Coaters, and secretary of the Ira Cemetery Board, to name but a few.

He was devoted to his wife and son, and in his later years he enjoyed traveling with them around the country. He even revisited his Naval roots, and sailed with his wife to Alaska and later Hawaii.

He is preceded in death by his parents Jim and Opal Brown, as well as one son, Douglas Vernon Brown. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Janet Brown of Ira, his son Thomas Brown of San Francisco, and his sisters Joyce “Mickey” Flowers of San Angelo and Peggy Hamm of San Antonio.

A memorial service honoring Jim’s life will be held on Monday, September 18 at 2:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, with the Reverend Dana Mayfield officiating. A reception will follow. Services are under the direction of Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.

The family suggests donations to either the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014, (1-800-708-7644) or the First Presbyterian Church of Snyder, 2712 Ave. R, Snyder, TX 79549 (325-573-6915).

Online condolences may be posted at www.bellcypertseale.com Bell-Cypert-Seale 3101 College Avenue Snyder TX 79549 Phone: 325 573 5454 Fax: 325 573 6001 Email [email protected]