Joseph Roger Brown, Sr.

Joseph Roger (Joe) Brown, Sr., 86, passed away in Los Angeles, California on October 16, 2014. Joe grew up in the Louisville, KY suburb of St. Matthews, and lived his adult life in Duffield, VA, Norton, VA, and Maryville, TN. He was preceded in death by his wife of 15 years, Nancy Kaye Brown, his parents George Herbert and Edith Woodall Brown and his four siblings, Herbert Brown, Anne Reardon, Eunice Muzyk, and Elizabeth (Kitty) Heuser. Joe is survived by three children: Joseph R. (Joe) Brown, Jr. and wife Lita of Johnson City, TN; David W. Brown and wife Genie of Stevenson Ranch, CA; and Jeanie Nicolette (Nickie) Brown and husband Mark Kiser of Knoxville, TN; eight grand children: Jennifer, Maria, Richard, Cecilia, Noah, Anthony, Matthew, and Linnet; and two great grandchildren, Sebastian and Natalie. Joe went to work at the age of 16 during the labor shortage of World War II. He worked initially in the potato sorting facility in St. Matthews at a time when St. Matthews laid claim to the distinction "potato capital of the world." He later worked as a machinist helper in the South Louisville shops of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, a treasured experience that made him a lifelong rail fan. When the war ended and the troops came home to the railroad jobs they held before the war, Joe went on to work at Kurfee Paint Company in Louisville. After marrying Jean Livingston and moving to VA, Joe worked as an electrician first for Foote Mineral Company and for Westmoreland Coal Company, and retired as an electrical inspector for the US Mine Health and Safety Administration after 20 years of service. As a young man Joe was active in the Boy Scouts and the Order of the Arrow. Joe also enjoyed the Sea Scouts and sailed the Ohio River from Louisville on the Sea Scout Ship. Joe was a member of the Civil Air Patrol during WWII and flew as part of the unit stationed at Bowman field in Louisville. While living in Duffield Joe was a Boy Scout leader, and was active in the Duffield Ruritan club and the Rye Cove band boosters. Joe was a member of the Kingsport, TN Moose Lodge and the Clinchport, VA Masons. When the Glenmary Missionaries established St. Bernard's missionary parish in Gate City, VA, Joe was there to lend a hand with the construction of the church. He also served on The Scott County, VA welfare board. Joe was also deeply engaged in establishing a volunteer fire department in Duffield. When he was elected chief the Department consisted of one antique surplus truck housed in a barn. During his years of leadership the department grew to a three-pumper department housed in a dedicated fire station in the Duffield Industrial Park. While in retirement in Maryville, Joe attended Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa, TN, with his wife Kaye. He enjoyed gardening, TV westerns, listening to local traditional musicians, and working on his model train layout. Joe joined the local model train club and regularly hosted meetings at his home. Joe moved to California in 2012 where his son, David, cared for him in 2012. While his health allowed, he was a participant at the Santa Clarita Senior Center where he especially enjoyed Wii bowling. Joe will be remembered as an especially gregarious individual, and loved to spend time with his grand children. He truly enjoyed talking to people and could find something in common with most everyone, as he made a point of brightening the day of those around him. Joe enjoyed pleasing and serving others, and in his final years maintained a charm and wit that left those he encountered delighted that they had met him. The family will receive friends from 1pm to 2pm on Friday, November 14 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Johnson City, TN with the funeral to follow at 2pm. The graveside service will be at 11am on November 15 at Grandview cemetery in Maryville, TN. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Joseph Roger Brown, Sr. please visit our Sympathy Store.