Mr. Donald Thomas Brown

Donald Thomas “Don” Brown passed away in North Vancouver on May 30, 2015, following a brief illness. He was 82 years old.

Don was born September 15, 1932 in Vancouver to his parents Edith Darley (nee Barwise) and Tom Brown. He grew up in several logging towns on Vancouver Island and spent his teen years in Vancouver.

After graduating from Vancouver Technical School in 1950 he began a long, successful career in the printing industry in Vancouver and Edmonton.

In 1953, Don married Betty Smyth from Maplewood in North Vancouver, where they built their home and raised their family. Except for five years in Edmonton in the early 1980s, they spent their life in North Vancouver.

Don was always active in the community. He served on several organizations in the printing industry in BC and Alberta, as chair of the North Shore Cubs and Scouts and as President of North Shore Youth Soccer. He was also active for many years as a Mason. He was a Past District Deputy Grand Master for District 14 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of British Columbia and a two-time Master of Progress Lodge #87.

Don and Betty enjoyed a long and fun retirement, with winters in Arizona and summers at Green Lake in the Caribou, which was Don’s pride and joy. Everywhere he went, Don made friends, and everyone who knew him will remember him as a friendly, sociable person – a nice guy – with a strong commitment to his family, friends and community, as well as his great sense of humour, which he maintained to the end.

Don is survived by his wife Betty, their four children Michael, Duncan, Stewart and Barbara, daughters in law, Joan and Debbie and grandchildren Laura, Justin, Meagan, Jessica and Sean.

A memorial service will take place at 12 noon, Friday, June 12, 2015 at the Mount Seymour United Church (at 1200 Parkgate Avenue in North Vancouver). In lieu of flowers, please donate to the South Green Lake Volunteer Fire Department at 548 South Green Lake Road, Green Lake, B.C. VOK 2K2.