Jesse Francis "Jay" Brown

Jesse Francis (Jay) Brown, 75, was born February 20, 1934 in Foss, Oklahoma, the sixth child of Jesse Thomas and Buena Vista (Carpenter) Brown. Jay was reared in Burns Flat, Oklahoma and graduated from Burns Flat High School in 1954, going back to complete his education after being out of school for two years with Scarlet Fever. In high school, he played basketball and baseball. As a young boy, he also liked to recall that he sang on the radio with his older sister Grace. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1957 and after basic training was stationed in Nuremburg, Germany, with the 4th Armored Division, where he served as a tank commander. After his two year tour of active duty he moved to Perry where he joined the National Guard to complete his military obligation of four years of National Guard duty with the 179th Infantry Division in Perry where he served from 1959-1965, being extended two years of active National Guard duty due to the Cuban Crisis. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant. After returning home from Germany, he accepted employment with Western Auto working as a counter salesperson and service man for Leonard and Flora Belle Mayes. While working here, he met and married the former Gloria G. Felkins on July 15, 1960 at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Burns Flat with his cousin, Rev. Jewell Blanton officiating. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and became affiliated with the Perry Assembly of God after his marriage. He then worked for Dick Dunford with his brother, Sam Brown, at the Oldsmobile Garage, before joining the Ditch Witch family at The Charles Machine Works, Inc. on January 27, 1964, retiring December 31, 1994, with nearly 30 years of service. He was instrumental in helping organize and serving as an officer of the Noble County REACT group in Perry, a channel 9 citizen band radio emergency response group. He became CLEET certified at Meridian Vocational Technology Center and was a charter member of the Noble County Sheriff"s Reserves of which he worked in voluntary service for 20 years, most of those years as Lieutenant, with his friend Darryl Clark as Captain. This fulfilled Jay"s dream of working in law enforcement. He loved helping people and was known for his kindness. He was an avid Perry Maroon Wrestling fan, and an Oklahoma University football fan. He also cheered for OSU except when they were playing OU. He also helped coach 10-and-under little league baseball. He left this world for his eternal life with his Lord and Savior on October 6, 2009 in Perry, OK. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, October 9, 2009 at the Perry Assembly of God Church with Rev. Brett Nation, Pastor officiating. Burial will be at Grace Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Perry Funeral Home. A family visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 8, 2009. The casket will remain open prior to the service, however, it will remain closed during and following the celebration of his life. Survivors, in addition to his wife Gloria include one son: Tracy Jay Brown and his wife Kim. Pottsboro, TX; and two daughters: Angela V. Abney and her husband Rufus, Perry, and Twana Brown Stillwater; grandsons: Terry Wayne (JR) Miner Jr., Trevor Scot Alan Mon and Thomas Jay Myers, all of Stillwater; granddaughters: Sheryl Jo (Brown) Mason, and her husband Josh, Tyler, TX, Talia Nicole Heath, Stillwater, and Skylar Ti Aguero, of Stillwater and Perry, Jessica Raelyn Abney, Perry, and Sarita Jenkins, Shawnee; two great grandsons: Ryan William Miner, Perry, and Tayler Jay Heath, Stillwater; one brother: Edward Thomas Brown and his wife Betty, Midwest City; one sister, Ouida Grace Ford, Marlow; two sisters-in-law, Jolene Brown, Cordell, and Betty (Felkins) Morris, Newcastle; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Samuel Clayton (Sam) Brown and Lowell Elmer Brown; and two sisters: Letha Bernice Ellis and her husband Othell, and Ruth, who died in infancy; brother-in-law, Bruce Ford; a grandson, David Michael Brown; and his father and mother-in-law, Raymond and Lucille Felkins; and brothers-in-law, Arnold Felkins and Gene Morris. Memorials may be made in his name to the Perry Assembly of God Children"s remodel fund, Noble County Sheriff"s Department, or the American Heart Association, in care of Perry Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent using our online guestbook at www.perryfuneralh.com.