Melvin Brown

Melvin L. Brown was called to his heavenly home December 30, 2012 after a short stay at the Mitchell Care Center.

His memorial service was held on Friday, January 4, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church in Gering with Pastor Lauren Ekdahl officiating. Inurnment followed at West Lawn Cemetery. Military honors were provided by the Nebraska Army National Guard.

Memorial contributions are preferred and welcomed at First United Methodist Church Elevator Fund, 900 O Street, Gering, NE 69341. Please contact Merry Witzke with any questions at 308. 436.3431. Tributes of sympathy may be left at http://www.geringchapel.com. Gering Memorial Chapel & Cremation Services are in charge of arrangements.

Melvin L. Brown was born September 16, 1919 to Ralph F. and Etta (Colton) Brown on the Campbell Place south of Kimball. His family farmed until their move to Kimball in 1927. Melvin attended District 16 School and graduated from Kimball County High School in 1937. He then worked for Huffman Drug Store as a “Soda Jerk” one year before leaving to attend Scottsbluff Junior College. Terry Carpenter hired Melvin after one year of college to work in the Lab at the Scotts Bluff Refinery. This was the beginning of a 42 year career at the refinery until his retirement in 1982.

Melvin married Dorothy E. Brown July 13, 1941 at Harrisburg Courthouse with Judge Clarence Shafto presiding. They were married six months when Melvin was drafted into the Army during WWII where he served in the Signal Corp for four years. He shipped out from the United States October 3, 1942 and arrived in West Africa on December 7, 1942. When he arrived in England on January 1, 1944 he had been promoted to First Sargent. A year later they were shipped to France and were on the way to Paris when the war ended. After spending a short time in Berlin they were shipped home. Upon his return home from the service he returned to the refinery and a promotion.

Melvin and Dorothy were among the first residents of the Village of Terrytown, moving into one of the original apartments in 1948. In 1952 they moved to a new home in Gering’s Reeder addition where they resided until December of 2012. Their daughter Cheryl Ann was born November 8, 1947 and son Randy Forrester arrived June 30, 1955.

Melvin was a member of the Scottsbluff Elks Lodge for over 45 years and served for a number of years as a trustee. He was a member of the VFW, Sons of the American Revolution and a lifetime member of the Gering United Methodist Church and served on many church committees.

Melvin and Dorothy belonged to the Half Century Club. In 1994 Melvin was honorary president of Oregon Trail Days and received his commission as an admiral in the Nebraska Navy.

Melvin is survived by his wife of 71 years, Dorothy , Cheryl’s son Michael (Lydia) Olson-Jones, Gering and Randy’s daughter Jennifer Cutrell, Aurora, CO, brother Lewis (Dorothy) Brown, Albany, OR, niece’s Carol (Beard) Quick, Hampton, NJ, Liz (Doug) Lutz, Grants Pass, OR, Louise Herrera , Redding, CA, Cathy (Steve) Caliman and Susan Spidle, Carlisle, PA, Jackie (Jim) Southern, Flagstaff, AZ , Janet (Meredith) Brown, West Whately, MA, nephew’s Lewis “Bud” Brown, Albany, OR, Leroy Beard, Sausilito, CA, Mark (Carol) Brown, Jeff (Kimberley) Brown, and Russ (Margorie)Brown, Spokane, WA, numerous great nephews and nieces, great-grandchildren Alix, Matthew and Logan Olson-Jones, step-great grandchild Christian, cousins Bruce (Cherie) Snyder, Greeley, CO, special friends Kim and Merry Witzki, Gering, Carolyn Carpenter, Sacramento, CA, Pam (Johnson) and Allen Gall, Mitchell, and many other relatives and friends.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, children Cheryl Ann Booth and Randy, sister and brother-in-law Gwen and Charles Beard, brother and sister-in-law Jack and Phyllis Brown, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Edward “Bud” and Jane Brown.