Kenneth Brown
In Loving Memory of Kenneth Herbert Brown 1942-2010

Ken leaves behind his mother, Lorene Brown; wife, Roxine Brown;
daughter ChauSaun Wainhouse & her husband Randy,
step-grandchildren,Tim, & Monica Wainhouse , granddaughter Mary
Rogers, son Shane Brown, sister Kathy Gephart & family, &
brother Keith Brown & family.
His occupations were roofer for over 35 years, Video Store
owner of five stores over 12 years, and Kirkland Homebase
Contractor desk for two years. His love of people and sense of
humor made him outstanding in any job he chose.
He championed children and women whenever he saw they were
hurt or in need. His natural gentleness, kindness, generosity,
empathy, and emotional involvement with those in need were his
biggest attributes and often his downfall.
He loved adventure and tackled anything he thought he could
do or accomplish. From mountain climbing, fishing, hunting (later
changing to photography), skating, skiing, bowling, baseball (we
wanted 9 children to field a team), golfing (on the Kenai in Alaska
with Frison cousins at 11 p.m. in the land of the midnight sun
& his last game with our son & my cousin Glen in January in
Green Valley, AZ), playing dominoes, or cards and his greatest
passion, racing. Whether it be racing his 64 Pontiac GTO at the SIR
Race track in the 60′s, his Yamha 175 Enduro motorcycle, his
Gambler speed boat, or the Honda odyssey with his son Shane. He
enjoyed it all until his medical problems became his greatest
obstacle. From being legally blind,(which was corrected by
inplanted contact lenses in 1989), color blindness (I wound up with
Irish Kelley green kitchen cupboards while absent one weekend), to
broken limbs, asthma, kidney stones, blood clots, circulatory
problems, skin gra! fts, heart attacks, ICD and stent implants, and
his last and final battle of acute myeloid leukemia cancer. And
fight he did. Hoping the chemo would give him two to five more
years, it only gave him 3 more weeks. He often made the comment
that he owned most of Evergreen Hospital and all his doctors were
driving Mercedes or going to Europe thanks to him. His sense of
humor finally left him on that 2nd week at Evergreen Hospital. Ever
the optimist I thought for sure with the prayers family &
friends were outpouring for him those 2-5 yrs. would become a
reality.
But God has His plans.

It was his humor that we enjoyed about Ken, myself included.
But what really drew me to him when I met him 46 years ago was that
he was every bit the gentleman that I thought no longer existed in
today's world. Whenever I became angry with him or was the focus of
his glare, I'd ask myself, 'why did I marry this man?' The answer
was always the same. He treated me with love and consideration that
no other had ever done before and I love him with all my heart and
know there will never be another Kenny Brown. His humor lives on in
others that I've seen it in. The Brown Humor, as we call it, lives
in his sister Kathy, and his brother Keith, (which I'm positive
they got from their dad, Herb). It is also very present in his son
Shane and granddaughter Mary. We catch glimpses of it in his niece
Julie and Ken would chuckle when she would match wits with him or
her mother, Kathy.
Ken reminds me of a song by Abba, 'Take A Chance On Me'. And
we did. We took a chance on each other 45 years ago. Often we would
look at each other and one of us would say 'have I told you
lately?' and let the sentence hang from an old Rod Stewart song.
Ken's love for music made it easy for us to relate to the
many songs that fit our lives, 'Little GTO, The Twelfth of Never,
We'll Sing in the Sunshine, Green Cathedrals, Elvis' Trilogy &
How Great Thou Art, and Allison Kraus' Down to the River to Pray
just to mention a few of his favorites. Ken, like his mother,
sister, nieces, and brother, had a beautiful singing voice and he
loved Gospel music and especially Elvis Gospel or Country Western
Gospel. My sister, Loraline wanted him to sing at her wedding but
he never would sing publicly, only among family and friends. He
would thump a watermelon placed on his shoulder next to his ear
looking for that 'C' note for the ripe watermelon. When other store
patrons saw what he was doing they'd ask him to pick out one for
them too! He had perfect pitch, which he did not pass onto his
children but did to his granddaughter, Mary. It did not help that I
am tone deaf. He would ask me NOT to sing in church when I stood
ne! xt to him.
Ken loved to be doing something constructive and would make
soap for our daughter ChauSaun, (Shonny), who is allergic to so
many soaps and her father's soap would always be perfect for her
skin. Ken made candles and did pieces of stone & bead jewelry
for family & friends.
He often told me one of his greatest adventures with me was
our trip to Tennessee to see Graceland and Nashville. We were there
for Fan Fare for his 60th birthday and one of the most memorable
times of our lives. It was one of many adventures we'd have with
just the two of us or with our children, family, or friends. All of
which enriched our lives. Family and friends. They were a part of
Ken. He often teased me and said he married me for my big family.
We have our camping place at Port Susan in Tulalip, WA which
Ken and his children, our families, and friends have made into 36
years of memories and our neighbors there, the Sykes, being very
much a part of those memories. It was there that he became very
aware of the American Bald Eagle as it would fly over the little
lake near camp or fly above our trees at camp so he started
collecting things with eagles. And Ken was able to live part of his
retirement dream. Nine months in Arizona planting cactus in our
yard, working out at the fitness center with his son, and enjoying
sunshine every day. He was looking forward to getting a sandrail
vehicle and exploring the desert in search of treasure with a metal
detector, his pickaxe, and shovel. Then Snowbirding to Port Susan
for summer months. Which is why we are here now.
When we heard the doctor's prognosis in the ER at Evergreen
Hospital on June 4th Ken's first words to me were, "I won't get to
go the 100 year celebration in Alberta for the Ehnes farm." I had
thought of other things, the farm's 100 yr. celebration never
entered my mind.
His beliefs and my beliefs sustain us that we have a far
better place to be when God calls us.

We thank Ken's nurses, doctors, and staff at Evergreen
Hospital, the Barton Family Funeral Service for their help,
friends, and family who have been there for us throughout the years
and those that still send their love and prayers for the family.
We also are grateful to the blood he received and thank those
people who donate blood to their Blood Banks for cases such as
Ken's. We thank Pastor Maylan Schurch of the Bellevue Seventh Day
Adventist Church for the faith he helped Ken feel. We thank the
Kirkland Bible Study group who helped Ken find deeper meaning to
his faith. To Kathy his sister who was with us during most of these
past weeks, to friends & family who visited Ken and brought
gifts and food to the hospital for Ken and for Shane & I to
take home with us. To Andre, Kathy, & Harlan who let us stay
with them when we needed to be near the hospital on certain days
and to our nieces and nephews who have helped us with putting
together Ken's Memorial Service at the Seventh Day Adventist
Church; 15 140th Ave NE; Bellevue, WA on July 24, 2010 at 4 p.m.
Ken lives on in our hearts and when we see all the things and
people he loved a cherished memory comes to mind. Until the day God
calls him and he flies with his beloved eagles and the angels and
saints he will be with me always as will all of you, who made his
life so very special. Peace be with you.