Forest C. Brown
Forest C. Brown was an MU graduate, a farmer, a soldier and a loving father of three.
He died on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010, at the age of 81.
Born on June 6, 1929, on a family farm south of Clifton Hill and raised with six brothers and sisters, Mr. Brown graduated from Clifton Hill High School in 1947, where he was a star basketball player.
"There were seven of us. He was the fourth brother, and then three younger girls in the family," said Katie Preston, Mr. Brown's sister. "He always liked to play jokes and had a great sense of humor."
In 1952, Mr. Brown graduated from MU with a bachelor's degree in horticulture. He then enlisted in the Army and married his wife, Elisabeth Garten, at her parents' home in Fort Meade, Md. At the time, Mr. Brown was stationed at Fort Holabird in Baltimore.
The couple had twin sons in 1954, and they had a daughter in 1958.
Mr. Brown worked in agricultural sales after his military service, living most of the time in St. Louis County and Moberly. After retiring from Shell Chemical Co., he sold real estate in Randolph County.
Mr. Brown had a lifelong passion for gardening.
"He could raise beautiful flowers," Preston said. "He loved gardening but was especially a flower person. He was very good with roses."
Mr. Brown also owned and managed farms in Randolph County from the late 1950s to the end of his life.
"We came from a farm background, and I think he continued to love everything having to do with agriculture," Preston said.
Mr. Brown was active in Republican politics and served as an elected Republican committeeman in Randolph County and as the Republican County chairman. He also served as president of the Randolph Area Pachyderm Club and was awarded the Tough Tusk Award by that organization for his work organizing the county for the Republican Party.
"He was always interested in civic matters, in things that were going on; it was a way for him to participate," Preston said.
Mr. Brown is survived by his wife, Elisabeth, to whom he was married for 58 years; two sons, Paul M. Brown of Creve Coeur and Robert C. Brown of Ames, Iowa.; a daughter, Linda Hardcastle of Carmel, Ind.; a brother, Bragg Brown of Marshall; two sisters, Nolie Mayo of Houston and Katie Preston of Columbia; and two cousins, Margery Bolerjack of Columbia and Imogene Fox of Mexico, Mo.
Other survivors include a granddaughter, Catherine Waldron; seven grandsons, Nathan Brown, Tristan Brown, Trevor Brown, Matthew Brown, Daniel Brown, Tyler Hardcastle and Justin Hardcastle; and three great-grandchildren, Sarah Amery Waldron, David Forest Waldron and Aubrey Elizabeth Brown.
Brothers Charles Brown and Norval Brown, and sister Mary Lee Cochran died earlier.
"He was loved by his family. We’re a very close family. He’ll be missed by everyone," Preston said. "I think he would have liked to be remembered as a good father and grandfather. I imagine that would have been the most important thing for him."
Services will be held Friday, Nov. 26, starting at noon, followed by a light brunch at the fellowship hall at Unity Center of Columbia, 1600 W. Broadway. At 3 p.m. a short graveside service will be held at Jacksonville Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville. Visitation with family will follow the memorial and graveside services.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association. Online condolences may be posted at parkerfuneralservice.com.
