J. O. Brown

J.O. Brown passed away Tuesday, August 26, 2014. He was born as an only child to Jesse O. Seaton Brown and Mary Francis Burris Brown in Franklin, KY on September 7, 1932. He moved with his parents to Claremore, OK in 1946 and graduated from Claremore High School in 1950. While attending Wichita University, he joined the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, where he served four years and then was in the active Reserves for another 10 years. He married Donna Sue Cook on July 16, 1954, and together they reared their three daughters in Tulsa, OK, where he completed his education at the University of Tulsa. He was Manager of the Data Processing Department of Tulsa Public Schools and then Vice President of Data Processing at Oklahoma Blue Cross Blue Shield before relocating to Albuquerque in 1982. He retired in 1987 from Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico, where he was Vice President of Data Processing and Computer Services, and has been financial officer and treasurer of Leeco Grounds Management, Inc. for the past 27 years. As a member of Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church, he served in several ministries and in helping the Business Administrator with financial duties. He and his wife also enjoyed worshipping with their family at Hope Evangelical Free Church and later moved their membership to Hope, yet love their many friends at both fellowships. He enjoyed reading and has an extensive library on The American Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I and II, by Christian authors on the history of the Christian church and commentaries on books of the Holy Bible. He and his wife enjoyed traveling and have done extensive traveling around the world and in the USA to visit their daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was a loyal friend and employee, and a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Everyone who knew him admired the combination of kindness and integrity that his life represented. He is preceded in death by his parents, and is survived by his wife; three daughters, Danene Brown Vincent-Gray and her husband Gregg Gray of Rogers, AR, Tresha Gayle Brown Vogt and her husband Rick Vogt of Portland, OR, and Melissa Anne Brown Funnell and her husband Dale Funnell of Albuquerque; 15 grandchildren; 15-great-grandchildren; and many loving nephews and nieces from his wife's large family. Memorial Services will be held Tuesday, September 2, 2014, 11:00 a.m., at Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 8600 Academy Rd. NE. Interment will take place at a later date at Santa Fe National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Samaritan's Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or Ecclesia College, AACC Conference, 9653 Nations Dr., Springdale, AR 72762 or . FRENCH - Wyoming 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400