Vernon Dean Brown, 78, died suddenly on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at the emergency room of Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center in Show Low. The funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, at Shepherd of the Pines United Methodist Church, located at 3015 Highway 277 in Overgaard, and the visitation will begin one hour prior. Pastor Noni Dye will officiate over the funeral proceedings. The concluding service and interment will be at Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier, Calif.
Vern, as he was known, was born on May 12, 1936, in Grant, Neb., to the late Arthur Howard and Myrtle Lucy (Conger) Brown.
He married his wife, Janet, on June 23, 1979. Together, they travelled extensively throughout the country and always looked forward to attending his family reunions in Nebraska every three years.
Family was paramount in his life, and Vern always made the best out of the time he was able to spend with them. By his example, he taught his family the value of hard work.
He was a general contractor, owning and operating his own business for 35 years. He was excellent in his work and many considered him to be a master carpenter.
Vern was reared in Paramount, Calif., and later lived in Glendora, Calif., for 40 years before moving to Arizona in 2001. When he and Janet moved to Arizona, they were able to move into the home they built in Heber, along the Mogollon Rim.
Never one to be idle, Vern gave of his time in various capacities in the Heber/Overgaard area. He was the volunteer in charge of building the new Heber Library in 2006. Vern was a faithful member of Shepherd of the Pines United Methodist Church, where he spent countless hours of service amongst his church family. He also volunteered for eight years with Meals On Wheels in the Heber/Overgaard communities. For years, Vern gave of his time, and was always a warm and welcomed face at the Overgaard Ponderosa Lions Club, where he participated in many service projects that ultimately helped hundreds within his community.
His warm and gentle ways will truly be missed by everyone who had the opportunity to call him husband, father, brother, grandpa or friend.
“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” His family finds a great deal of comfort knowing that he is happy being in the presence of his Redeemer.
Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Janet Brown of Heber; five children, Denny Brown of Lake Elsinore, Calif., Jay Brown of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Matthew (Tracy) Sellers of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Mark (Ann) Sellers of Sterling, Va., and Patrick (Kendra) Sellers of Lake Elsinore; one sister, Margaret “Maggie” Headrick of Highlands Ranch; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Loren Brown and Donald Brown.
Owens Livingston Mortuary of Show Low was in charge of the arrangements.
