Billy Don Brown

Billy Don Brown (70) of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away Tuesday, December 29th, 2015. He landed on Earth in Bald Knob, Arkansas on New Years Eve December 31st, 1944. He was the youngest of eight siblings of the late Ulysses Sherman and Mary Emma (Cary) Brown. Billy was a 1962 Bulldog graduate of Bald Knob High School and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville a Razorback with a BS degree in electrical engineering in 1967. Billy went on to serve his country in the Vietnam War as a Missile Technician Third Class on several navy submarines from 1967 to 1969. He was a former mathematics instructor for the Bald Knob and Maynard Arkansas school systems and a retired maintenance electrician for the companies Genstar and Wheatland Tube and Conduit in Little Rock. Bill left the US Navy only to enter the storm. In 1969 he met a nosy little spitfire who became the love of his life. On April 8th, 1972 he married Alma Ruth Dhoritey of Judsonia, Arkansas. They shared 43 precious years together. Though one of her young nieces jokingly "never forgave" him for taking her beloved Aunt Alma away. Billy Don Brown was a man loved like this by a multitude of family, friends, and coworkers. Many nieces and nephews considered him a brother instead of uncle because he was so endeared. He managed to charm anyone he ever met with his bright blues eyes, familiar smirk, and "sweet and sassy" dry wit. He always had something funny to say. He earned the nickname "Mr. Personality" and many others over the years. He had many interests. Being an outdoorsman, he loved to hunt deer and duck, to fish and boat, but also taking quiet walks in nature, and gardening the various flora of Arkansas. His mechanical skills were prime, regardless of whether he was keeping well-worn Dodge trucks and boat motors working for over twenty years or making million dollar production line equipment stay in shipshape. Billy moved his family to Little Rock in 1975, eventually settling in the community of Crystal Valley for forty years. He joined the Crystal Hill Baptist Church there for 37 years and had many fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. He may have left this Earth, close to the anniversary of the day he entered it, but he and his generous spirit will always be loved and remembered by all who knew him. Our family circle may be broken. A link from it is now gone from our chain. But though we're parted for awhile, we know we'll meet again. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Gloria Dean Brown, Helen Merrell, and Dorothy Lampton; and brother James Dee (J.D.) Brown. Survivors include his wife, Alma Ruth; two sons, Damon Dewayne Brown of Westminster, CA and Billy Don Brown Jr. of Little Rock, AR; two sisters, Geneva Smith of Judsonia, AR and Ruth Anselmi of Lyons, IL; brother, Charles Brown of Westminster, CA; sister-in-law, Kay Dhoritey of Searcy, AR; brother-in-law, Arthur Rouse of Judsonia, AR; and several nieces and nephews and their children nationwide. Visiting hours will be held Friday, January 1st, 2016 from 6-8 PM at the Powell Funeral Home in Bald Knob, Arkansas. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 2nd, 2016 at the Powell Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery in Judsonia under the direction of Powell Funeral Home. www.powellfuneralhome.net In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his name to the Navy-Marine Relief Corps Society www.nmrcs.org or a veterans charity of your choice.

Billy Don Brown

December 31, 1944 - December 29, 2015