Larry A. Brown

DECEMBER 20, 1939 – FEBRUARY 26, 2018

Larry A. Brown was born in Hume, Missouri, the second son of Roy Harold Brown and Omega Lavern (nee Chastain) Brown. He grew up in Nevada, Missouri where he attended Nevada High School while working many jobs both before and after school including farm hand, fry cook, and delivering newspapers. Larry also served in the National Guard. When he moved to Kansas City after high school, he worked at Hallmark Cards in the Production department. His older brother, Harold Leroy Brown, also worked at and retired from Hallmark Cards in Kansas City.

Larry met his wife, Evelyn Sue (nee Perkins) Brown at Hallmark and they married on July 3, 1958. He used to love telling people that he and Sue married July 3rd and their only daughter, Sherri Lynn Brown Geier, also of Kansas City, was born on the 4th (long pause) “the next year.” Larry and Sue lived in Kansas City their entire adult lives. Sue continued to work at Hallmark until Sherri started kindergarten when she remained at home through Sherri’s elementary school years before returning to work at Marion Laboratories in Kansas City until her retirement in the 1980’s when her full-time job became spoiling her grandchildren.

Larry left Hallmark in the 1970’s when he purchased a small machine shop business from Edgar and Mary Givens located at 2307 Indiana Ave. in Kansas City. He renamed the business Brown Industries, Inc. and it continues operation today under the supervision of John Manning and Connie Thomsen. Larry’s only grandson, Matthew Stadler, continues work at Brown Industries. Although Larry had retired from Brown Industries, the company will remain in the family and will continue business operations as usual.

Larry had a long and full life with many friends who remained close to the time of his death. He and Sue loved to travel and visited many places including China, Japan, Hawaii (many times) and several other states in the U.S. After Sue’s death in 2015, Larry traveled to North and South Dakota and Montana, places he and Sue had wanted to visit but had been unable to due to Sue’s failing health.

Larry valued his many friends and enjoyed spending time with them. He remained in touch with his best friend from his childhood, Tom Woods, who remains a dear and faithful friend to the family today. Larry had many friends he valued and loved spending time with. He made many friends at his church, through business connections and work in the community.

Larry is survived by his daughter, Sherri Brown Geier of Leawood, Kansas; his grandchildren, Matt Stadler of Olathe, Kansas; Caitlin Stadler of Baltimore, Maryland; his sister-in-law Maxine Brown of Bolivar, Missouri; and his niece Michelle Brown Long of Columbus, Ohio.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Harold and Omega Brown, his brother Harold Leroy Brown and his wife Evelyn Sue Brown.

Contributions to be made to Reach out and Read of Kansas City in Larry name

www.reachoutandread.org