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BIOGRAPHY
Brown, Michael, 54, passed away Saturday, July 21, 2012, in Norman, Oklahoma. He was born December 1, 1957, in Kansas City, MO to Miars “Bud” and Marjorie Joann (Thomson) Brown. He was united in marriage on January 10, 1987 to Sherry Corlee in Norman, Oklahoma. They just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.
The youngest of three sons, Mike and his family moved to Norman in 1964 from Irving, Texas. He graduated from Norman High School in 1976 and attended the University of Oklahoma. He was employed with Washita Valley Logistics, a subsidiary of Harrison Gypsum, as a freight broker. Before working with Washita Valley Logistics, he was employed with Jack Cooper Transport of Kansas City.
In their early years of marriage, Mike and Sherry experienced memorable times of traveling together throughout the US and abroad. When their daughter Katie was born, Mike quickly demonstrated his passion of being a dedicated father and putting his family first. His devotion is evidenced through the countless hours he spent reading to Katie, riding bikes, coaching her softball teams and supporting her activities. Mike may have been Katie’s number one fan as she pursued her gymnastics dream. In fact, he never missed a gymnastics meet.
Mike was known to many as an avid walker. Other outdoor hobbies included golfing, hiking and camping in Yosemite National Park. In addition to being a dedicated husband and father, that same priority of family was demonstrated by Mike as a loving son to his father. Mike and his father loved working on cars and traveling the country searching for the perfect Buick Reatta.
As a member of Bethel Baptist Church, Mike particularly enjoyed being a member of the Lashar Sunday School and cherished the friendships he made there.
Mike is survived by his wife, Sherry Brown; one daughter, Katie Brown; his father, Bud Brown; two brothers, Steve Brown of Estes Park, CO and Ted Brown of Jacksonville, FL; niece Brookie Brown; his father and mother-in-law, Orvilee and Barbara Corlee of Norman; his sister-in-law, Holly Kyle of Norman; and nephews, Scott Kyle of Lubbock, TX and Chance Kyle of Norman. He is preceded in death by his mother.
Memorials may be made in memory of Mike Brown to the Baptist Children's Home of Oklahoma City, 16301 S. Western Ave., OKC, OK 73170.
Visitation will be held 9:00 am-8:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 25, 2012 with the family greeting friends from 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 26, 2012, at Bethel Baptist Church, 1717 West Lindsey, Norman, with interment following in the Warren Cemetery. Arrangements for Mike and his family were placed in the care of Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman. Online condolences may be shared at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com.
FACTS
Born: December 1, 1957
Death: July 21, 2012
SERVICES
Visitation
Wednesday July 25, 2012, 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM at Havenbrook Funeral Home
with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Funeral
Thursday July 26, 2012, 11:00 AM at Bethel Baptist Church
Interment
Thursday July 26, 2012 at Warren Cemetery
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Susie O'Dell (Skaggs)
I felt this one in the pit of my stomach when I found out a few minutes ago. Mike was always a true friend with a great heart. He supported me through thick and thin, smart and stupid and always with a pat on the shoulder and a spark from that glorious smile.......I first met Mike at West Junior High. He was just an all around good guy. I remember I ran for some office (I can't remember which one) and I just stunk at my speech - it was terrible, but Mike to the rescue - he asked some questions during the assembly that gave me a chance to redeem myself (at least just a little). He always smiled and looked you straight in the eye. What a great friend. The last time I saw him was about 2005. He was bringing his Dad to see the same doctor I was seeing. We got a chance to catch up since our last conversation. I was so moved by how sweet and respectful he was with his father that day. The last time we spoke on the phone was in 2010. I could feel his smile over the phone. So long old friend.....so long.
Chuck Goff
I played baseball and football with Mike. He was always Mr.Team. In later years, I was reacquainted with Mike via Kevin Murphy. We played quite a bit of tennis for a couple of years. He was still as competitive as ever. I lost touch after that. I knew he had been sick for some time through conversations with Kevin. I will always have fond memories and he will be missed. My heart and condolences go out to the family.
Chuck Goff
Evelyn Galaz (Badihian)
It grieves me to hear of Mike's passing. I've thought of Mike every so often through the years. I met Mike through Scott McClellan who was best friends with Mike for at least the last couple years of high school. Mike was a kind-hearted, soft-spoken man...a gentleman. It doesn't surprise me that he was an exemplary father and husband. My heart goes out to his family. I will always remember his smile.
Cindy McCay
This is a difficult post to read. Mike was a true friend to me, and my older sister was best friends with Mike’s older brother, so the Brown family was very present in our lives.
I will never forget the day in high school when a group of us were coming back from lunch when we spotted a car that was oddly positioned half-way in the street and half-way in someone’s front yard. Inside that car, slumped over in the front seat, was a local pastor who had suffered a heart attack while driving. While some of us ran from house to house, knocking on doors, trying to get someone to call 911 (before cell phones) Mike was one of the ones that stepped up and helped carry the man from the car to await the ambulance. He was nervous and scared, but he did it anyway.
This weekend, I pulled out my old yearbooks and read Mike’s incredibly sweet entries. We’ve lost a really lovely person, and I appreciate having known him.
Cindy McCay
Susie O'Dell (Skaggs)
Comments from Facebook:
Susie O'Dell (Skaggs)
Comments from Havenbrook Funeral home:
I am in shock reading about the passing of Mike Brown!!
Mike was my very first friend in Grade school at Cleveland. We met the first day of first grade. Mike was fun and he also quickly became the protector for many of us skinny boys back then. The bigger and older kids knew not to mess with Mike or us because we were Mike's friend. The bullies back then learned the hard way that Mike would take care of anyone who messed with him or his friends.
We shared fun times when I was in grade school and we played football together as well for the Cleveland Cougars back then.
Mike grew to be a very good man and mentor to all who were lucky to spend time with him.
God Bless MB in heaven cause Im sure he is protecting the little angels now.
My prayers to his wife and family.
Linda Klingstedt (Sloan)
I have been so saddened to hear about the lose of Mike... what a guy! I remember him as such a supportive and dear friend, starting in 8th grade English. Mike was smart, clever and fun, he treated everyone with graciousness and respect, and always had encouragement and smiles to share. I was fortunate enough that Mike asked me to go with him to our 10th grade "formal". Unfortunately for HIM I had to call him to let him know he could ask someone else or I would be attending on crutches due to an accident that very week. He never missed a beat: he first wanted to be sure I was alright and then reassured me that it was not an issue for him. He was so very nice, and was the perfect date, sitting out dances to sit with me. I missed him at our most recent reunion and wanted to let him know that when I "grew up", he became my "standard of measurement" for qualities to seek in a guy. I'm sorry I didn't get to share with him and thank him for the impact his kindnesses made. I'm so very grateful for the privilege of knowing him, and so very sorry he left all too soon.
Richard Davis
It has taken me this long to post....
Mike and I go way back to West and through HS and then during the years of college. Jackie and I even took a trip to Dallas with he and his g/f at that time. What was fun to watch about Mike was his evolvement. He went from a bit of a bully to the most peaceful....easy going....nurturing person that I have known.
I had lost contact with several of my closest friends including him....Lance McDaniel....and many others until Susie started the campaign for a 35th reunion. Several of us hadn't been to one since our 10th as we had moved around so much that the strings of communication had been broken.
As I was involved with seeking out people for the 35th I found Mike in Norman...several missed calls until finally we spoke on the phone right before our 35th....sounded just like the friend I have always known. Spoke of how proud he was of his daughter and her accomplishments in gymnastics and how busy that and his work kept him....
The one thing he neglected to tell me was that he was seriously ill he had been years before…..and obviously was up until the day of his death...
That was Mike in a nutshell....he didn't want to burden others with his own problems...only wanted to share what was good in his life...his wife and daughter....
He is truly missed....