Cullen Robert Brown

Mr. Brown was an oil distributor.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara; two sons, Mark W. and C. Paul, both of Grand Junction; three daughters, Dana LeeAnn Colloty and Caryl L. Batdorf, both of Grand Junction, and Catherine Z. Plant of Golden; one brother, Gary C. of Grand Junction; one sister, Cloy Ann Reed of Chicago; nine grandchildren; and six great-granchildren.

Memorial contributions to the Colorado Mesa University Golf Fund, 1100 North Ave., Grand Junction 81501.

C.R. Brown

July 12, 1930 - March 20, 2014

Cullen Robert ""Bob"" Brown, 83, of Grand Junction, Colorado passed away Thursday, March 20, 2014, from complications following recent hip surgery.

Private family services were held Wednesday, March 26, 2014.

Bob was born in Denver, Colorado, on July 12, 1930, and moved to Grand Junction shortly thereafter with his parents, Cloy R. and Emma Brown.

Bob served in the US Armed Services in 1948, and graduated from University of Colorado in 1952, with a degree in Business. He was a working-man's man whose hard work and entrepreneurial skills propelled him to succeed in his business and community affairs. Bob joined his father in running C.R. Brown Oil Company in 1952, which Cloy Brown had operated since the 1940's. Prior to that, Cloy was the general manager for Mesa County Union Oil Co. The Brown's ran the Goodyear Tire franchise in Grand Junction from 1952 to 1967. Bob, with his father, were associated with Sinclair Oil Company. Bob bought the Texaco distributorship in 1971, and sold to Riggle Oil Co. in 1972. Mark Brown joined the company in 1974, and continues his association to this day. Paul Brown joined the company in 1980, and with Bob, started the Go-fer Foods Convenience Store chain in Western Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. Lee Ann Colloty rejoined the company in 2009, and continues to this day. The Brown family began doing business with Conoco in 1981. Bob loved his work and the people around him. His greatest excitement was to sit in his office and greet the endless stream of friends, farmers and ranchers, oilmen and other businessmen that would just stop by to say hello and seek his advice. At Christmas he always visited former employees and made sure their needs were taken care of. His classic quote ""somebody's got to work around here"", was a gentle reminder that he needed to get back to work.

Bob loved Western Colorado, and was passionate about building a better community. He was instrumental in building Orchard Mesa Little League in 1961. He spent countless hours developing the fields, organizing sponsors and coaching his son's teams. In the early 1960's, Bob was busy with the National Junior College World Series (JUCO) and was a team host for the G.J. Kiwanis and hosted many teams from the South including Miami Dade Jr. College. Bob was given the keys to the City of Miami from the baseball coach, Demi Manieri. He also served on Governor John Love and John Vanderhoof's State Highway commission that built Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon to connect Grand Junction to Denver. Bob was past member of the St. Mary's Hospital Foundation that raised money for the Hospital Tower. Bob was a founding member of Bookcliff Country Club and got his handicap down to a seven in his day. He served on the Board of Directors of United Banks of Colorado, Grand Junction, United Banks of Colorado Holding Company, Norwest Bank, which was purchased by Wells Fargo Banks. He was also an advisor to University of Colorado's School of Business.

Bob married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Lee Curry, in 1950. Together they raised five children, Mark (Sherri) Brown of Grand Junction; LeeAnn Colloty of Grand Junction; Caryl (Greg) Batdorf of Grand Junction; C. Paul (Kobi) Brown of Grand Junction, and Catherine Plant of Genessee. They have nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Bob enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren in their activities and supporting their education. He also enjoyed fishing at Blue Mesa Reservoir, collecting antiques, watching Western movies, and building companies.

Bob is survived by a sister, Cloyanne Reed of Chicago, Illinois, and brother, Gary Cloy Brown of Grand Junction. He is preceded in death by sister, Janice Barrows of Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Colorado Mesa University Golf Foundation, Cullen R. Brown Golf Scholarship, 1100 North Ave., Grand Junction, 80501.

Published in The Daily Sentinel on Mar. 29, 2014

C.R. Brown

July 12, 1930 - March 20, 2014

Cullen Robert ""Bob"" Brown, 83, of Grand Junction, Colorado passed away Thursday, March 20, 2014, from complications following recent hip surgery.

Private family services were held Wednesday, March 26, 2014.

Bob was born in Denver, Colorado, on July 12, 1930, and moved to Grand Junction shortly thereafter with his parents, Cloy R. and Emma Brown.

Bob served in the US Armed Services in 1948, and graduated from University of Colorado in 1952, with a degree in Business. He was a working-man's man whose hard work and entrepreneurial skills propelled him to succeed in his business and community affairs. Bob joined his father in running C.R. Brown Oil Company in 1952, which Cloy Brown had operated since the 1940's. Prior to that, Cloy was the general manager for Mesa County Union Oil Co. The Brown's ran the Goodyear Tire franchise in Grand Junction from 1952 to 1967. Bob, with his father, were associated with Sinclair Oil Company. Bob bought the Texaco distributorship in 1971, and sold to Riggle Oil Co. in 1972. Mark Brown joined the company in 1974, and continues his association to this day. Paul Brown joined the company in 1980, and with Bob, started the Go-fer Foods Convenience Store chain in Western Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. Lee Ann Colloty rejoined the company in 2009, and continues to this day. The Brown family began doing business with Conoco in 1981. Bob loved his work and the people around him. His greatest excitement was to sit in his office and greet the endless stream of friends, farmers and ranchers, oilmen and other businessmen that would just stop by to say hello and seek his advice. At Christmas he always visited former employees and made sure their needs were taken care of. His classic quote ""somebody's got to work around here"", was a gentle reminder that he needed to get back to work.

Bob loved Western Colorado, and was passionate about building a better community. He was instrumental in building Orchard Mesa Little League in 1961. He spent countless hours developing the fields, organizing sponsors and coaching his son's teams. In the early 1960's, Bob was busy with the National Junior College World Series (JUCO) and was a team host for the G.J. Kiwanis and hosted many teams from the South including Miami Dade Jr. College. Bob was given the keys to the City of Miami from the baseball coach, Demi Manieri. He also served on Governor John Love and John Vanderhoof's State Highway commission that built Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon to connect Grand Junction to Denver. Bob was past member of the St. Mary's Hospital Foundation that raised money for the Hospital Tower. Bob was a founding member of Bookcliff Country Club and got his handicap down to a seven in his day. He served on the Board of Directors of United Banks of Colorado, Grand Junction, United Banks of Colorado Holding Company, Norwest Bank, which was purchased by Wells Fargo Banks. He was also an advisor to University of Colorado's School of Business.

Bob married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Lee Curry, in 1950. Together they raised five children, Mark (Sherri) Brown of Grand Junction; LeeAnn Colloty of Grand Junction; Caryl (Greg) Batdorf of Grand Junction; C. Paul (Kobi) Brown of Grand Junction, and Catherine Plant of Genessee. They have nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Bob enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren in their activities and supporting their education. He also enjoyed fishing at Blue Mesa Reservoir, collecting antiques, watching Western movies, and building companies.

Bob is survived by a sister, Cloyanne Reed of Chicago, Illinois, and brother, Gary Cloy Brown of Grand Junction. He is preceded in death by sister, Janice Barrows of Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Colorado Mesa University Golf Foundation, Cullen R. Brown Golf Scholarship, 1100 North Ave., Grand Junction, 80501.

Published in The Daily Sentinel from Mar. 29 to Mar. 30, 2014