Thomas Albert Brown's Obituary
Tom was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on February 11, 1949 to Earl Dale and Frances Henrietta Brown. Two years later his brother Earl Dale Brown Jr. arrived. Tom’s sister Sandra Lynn Brown was born 2 years after that.
Tom grew up in Michigan. He and his family first lived in a house built by his Grandfather in Kalamazoo. From Kalamazoo, they moved to a farm in Vicksburg, Michigan. Many rich stories came of their life on the farm. They raised crops and livestock and had plenty of work and fun. The next stop was Bankson Lake in Lawton, Michigan. It was here Tom realized his love for water. He was an avid swimmer, fisherman, boater, skier, and a licensed scuba diver.
As a young man he developed an interest in welding and pursued the needed education to become certified at many levels, including mastering the difficult process of welding aluminum. Welding brought Tom to Chicago for a time, where he both worked as a welder and taught welding at the College of DuPage. After leaving Chicago, Tom moved to Tucson, Arizona where he began working for Hughes Aircraft. While in Tucson he obtained 2 associate degrees from Pima Community College, one in welding and the other in mechanical drafting. His welding career included work on aircraft missiles and parts of spacecraft. He loved technology of any kind. He and a friend built his first computer in 1992, and for a time Tom had a business, “Cadamation.” Projects included work in accident reconstruction and furniture design.
Tom met the love of his life, Mary Frances Gerber, in 1979. They met while serving as best man and maid of honor in his brother Earl’s wedding. It was love at first sight. Mary moved from Michigan to join Tom in Tucson in 1982 and they began their journey together. They married in 1983 at the Chapel of the Stars in Las Vegas. (Mary looked like a vision in her knee length Christian Dior gown.)
After a visit to see his brother and sister in Florida in 1997, the lure of the water called Tom and Mary to move to New Port Richey, Florida in 1998. Gulf Harbors became their home for the next 21 years. Tom fulfilled his love of fishing and boating in a grand fashion. He loved living on the water and was thankful that God had provided the opportunity.
In 2003 Tom and Mary adopted a 12-week-old Yorkshire terrier. They named her Crickie Louise Brown. Crickie quickly became Tom’s loyal and faithful companion until his passing. They spent every day together and had a very special bond.
Tom was a loyal and wonderful husband, brother, brother-in-law, uncle and friend. He was so strong and courageous through many years of illness and his four separate battles with cancer. He perpetually bounced back, and he never complained. He was so grateful for the love, and in awe of the support from his family and friends.
Tom was and is my best friend and I will love and miss him always.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donation in Tom's memory be made to the America Cancer society:
www.cancer.org/involved/donate.html
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