WILLARD EUGENE "BILL" BROWN

WILLARD EUGENE "BILL" BROWN Willard E. Brown, age 85, died Monday, March 5, 2012, at the Golden Living Center of Chase County in Cottonwood Falls, KS. A graveside service will be held Monday, March 12, 2012, at 3:00 P.M., at the Strong City Cemetery in Strong City, KS. Military honors will be conducted by a U.S. Navy Funeral Honors Detail. The son of William T. and Maud A. Wilson Brown, Willard Eugene was born July 21, 1926, in Strong City, KS. His mother died and his father married Helen Green. He served in the United States Navy, in the Pacific, during World War II. He was a member of the crew on the USS Bataan Aircraft Carrier and was a ship’s cooks. He and Marjorie Green were married in 1942. They, later, divorced. Mr. Brown never remarried. He was a carpenter/roofer and spent many hours in the timber cutting wood to heat his home. He was a 69 year member of the American Legion and was proud to be a veteran. He loved to play cards and enjoyed teaching his grandchildren how to play. He was very proud of being "Gramps" to the grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is survived by three daughters: Mary Ann Kohls of Lincolnville, KS., Alice Brandon of Americus, KS., and Wanda Grimsley of Americus, KS.; one brother: Charles Brown of Carson City, NV.; one sister: JoAnn Brammell of Emporia, KS.; nine grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Rita Lou Gardner; a sister, Betty Kohlman; and six brothers: Bus Brown, Bub Brown, Dutch Brown, Short Brown, Max Gordon, and Bobbie Coffman. There will be no formal family visitation and the casket will be closed. Friends may call Sunday from noon until 5:00 and Monday, from 10:00 until 1:00, at the Brown-Bennett-Alexander Funeral Home. Memorial contributions to the Chase County All-Veterans Memorial may be sent to the funeral home, 201 Cherry, Cottonwood Falls, KS. 66845. Messages for the family may be left at www.brown-bennett-alexander.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of WILLARD EUGENE "BILL" BROWN, please visit our floral store.