LEW BROWN, at 89 years young, gently passed Sunday morning July 27, 2014 at the VA Hospital La Jolla, CA. as unexpected raindrops fell from the clouds. LEW GENE BROWN was a loving, giving, devoted husband for 33+ years to his beloved wife Dee “Deana” Brown.
Inspirational and supportive Dad (POP) to his children, Greg Browne (wife Lyn), Chris Brown (wife Gail), Suzon Schweitzer, Stephen Brown (wife Lorna), Shelly Kramer (husband Dave), Maura Duffy, John Prater (wife Stacy) and Lynn Saks (husband Adam).
Caring and involved Grandfather (PaPa) to Kristen Linden, Aaron Brown, Pablo and Monte Martin, Ava and Allen Kramer, Tony Bergamini, Joshua and Zachary "Lew" Prater, Tyler, Dylan and Cassandra Saks.
Charming and feeling Great Grandpa to Catherine, Julie, Calista and Alexandra Neuman, Isabella and Natalia Pena-Martin.
Loyal Brother to George Brown and Tom Brown (wife Viola) and loyal Brother-in-law to Juanita Brown.
Endearing Uncle to Jennifer Grace, Kevin Brown (wife Carol), Kimberly Brown-Whale (husband Richard), Judy Brown and Dennis Brown (wife Sarah).
He loves cooking breakfast for Dee and letting her cleanup, letting people know how special they really are and how much he cares for them, being kind, generous, always willing to help anyone, all little children for their innocence, singing when coming into a room, reciting poems, plays and other works deeply embedded in his brain, working/playing on his computer, doing genealogy, solving Sudoku, listening to music that the bass/drums don’t drown out the vocal or song, watching CNN, baseball, golf, educational programs and eating food that tastes really good.
Served his country as a Marine Corporal in WWII on the Pacific Front, Saipan, Tinian, Rota, other small islands and awarded a Purple Heart from Iwo Jima for shrapnel in his neck to this day.
As well as his extensive involvement with the Maui Democratic Party.
Served his God in service to others by his longtime community works on Maui as a 32 degree Mason, a 33 degree Scottish Right, a Shriner.and with Kihei-Wailea Rotary, Women Helping Women, Ke Hale aka Ola, Hale Kau Kau, Maui Friends of the Library, Read to Me, Junior Achievement, Kihei Charter School, Maui Special Olympics, Maui Bowl, Christmas Tour of Homes, played Santa Claus for non-profit agencies/hotels and a Disaster Volunteer with the American Red Cross serving for almost 10 months after 9/11 in Washington DC.
After WWII he returned home to Norman Oklahoma and graduated from Oklahoma University stopping to teach for 1 year High School English Literature in Ava, Missouri before moving on to New York to begin his life work as a character actor. Moving to Hollywood CA in 1951 to work on stage and in TV and films doing his first Gunsmoke in 1956 and continued performing in hundreds of various roles such as Dragnet, Days of Our Lives, Topaz until he retired in 1990 Doing one more role on Maui in a Swedish film called “Gone to Maui” (Dee had a small part).
His career shined brightly without to much notice but his legacy lives on as he is seen in all the countless reruns of his hundreds of works in both color and black and white!
BROWN, Lew (Lew Gene Brown)
Born: 3/18/1925, Goltry, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Died: 7/27/2014, La Jolla, California, U.S.A.
Lew Brown’s westerns – actor:
Gunsmoke (TV) – 1956, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974 (Sam Fraser, Will Aper, Jim Bride, Nate, Red Lime, Andy Coe, Frank Dill, Eli Wall, Fred, outlaw, Ben Paisley,
Frank Holtz, Weaver, Smith, Reeves, Beeton)
Two Faces West (TV) – 1960 (Bray)
Maverick (TV) – 1960 (Jeb Carteret)
Laramie (TV) – 1960, 1962 (Tucker)
Outlaws (TV) – 1961 (Deputy Marshal Miller)
Rawhide (TV) – 1961, 1965 (Trevor, Gorman, sentry)
Have Gun – Will Travel (TV) – 1962 (Michael Mahoney)
Stoney Burke (TV) – 1962 (trooper)
Empire (TV) – 1963 (Cord)
Bonanza (TV) – 1964, 1972 (Liege, conductor)
Death Valley Days (TV) – 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969 (David Neal, Cory Jones, Danny)
The Wild Wild West (TV) – 1965, 1967 (henchman, guard)
Cimarron Strip (TV) – 1967, 1968 (deputy, Slavin)
The Virginian (TV) – 1962, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970 (Dowdy, Deputy Ellis, Dink, Clint
Timmins, Gummery, Alfie)
The Outcasts (TV) – 1968 (cowboy)
The High Chaparral (TV) – 1970 (Parsons)
Cutter’s Trail (TV) – 1970 (sentry)
Alias Smith and Jones (TV) – 1971 (Frank Johnson)
Hec Ramsey (TV) – 1974 (supply sergeant)
Little House on the Prairie (TV) – 1975 (Ledbetter)
Kenny Rogers as the Gambler (TV) – 1980 (Jonson)
Tales of the Apple Dumpling Gang – 1982 (Leonard Sharp)