Larry Brown

Larry LeRoy Brown, youngest child of Robert LeRoy and Madge (McCullough) Brown, was born May 26, 1938, in Decatur County, Iowa, and passed away August 22 at the age of 82.

Larry grew up on a century farm in Ringgold County, Iowa west of Lamoni with brother Roger and sister Sharon.  He developed a love of raising and showing cattle through 4-H, and that love continued throughout his life, carrying on a Brown family tradition.

He graduated from Mount Ayr High School in 1956, Northwest Missouri State in 1962, and received his Master’s Degree in Public Administration / Political Science from Iowa State University in 1976.  Larry taught school in Burlington, Iowa for two years, and was the Director of the Human Services Department for 44 years in Mount Ayr, in addition to maintaining his farming operation.

On December 17, 1967, Larry married Joen Gross at the United Methodist Church in Mount Ayr.  This union was blessed with two sons, Dustin (wife Kathy) Brown and Trenton “T.J.” Brown.

In his retirement years, Larry and Joen enjoyed spending winters and much of their time at their condo in Branson, and recently enjoyed two Caribbean cruises and a memorable trip to Alaska.  They were also avid Northwest Missouri State football fans and enjoyed traveling to Maryville, Missouir watching their games with the season passes they had for many years.

Most of all, Larry enjoyed spending time with his family and took pride in watching his two sons grow and share the values he and Joen instilled in them.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Roger Brown and Sharon Brown Cooper; sister-in-law Jayne Gross Rivera.

He is survived by Joen, his loving wife of nearly 53 years; sons Dustin (wife Kathy) Brown and Trenton “T.J.” Brown; grandchildren Courtney Enderby, Tiffany Lucas, and Natalie Greathouse; great grandchildren Makayla (Johnathan) Maples, Makenzi Armitage, Clayton Herriot, Payton Lucas, Braiden Sigler, and Mason Greathouse; great-great grandchildren Knox Armitage and Sutton Jane Maples; sister-in-law Peggy Brown; brothers-in-law Jack (Marlene) Gross and Joe (Jennifer) Rivera; nephews Scott Cooper, Perry Brown, Roger Brown, Joey Rivera, Jason Gross; nieces Ronda Hefly, Shari Atwood and Melanie Gross.

Memorials may be directed to the Ringgold County 4H or United Methodist Church in Mount Ayr.