Private funeral services for friends and family only, celebrating the life of Mr. Howell Dean Brown, 86, will be Wednesday, April 21 at Hill Crest Memorial Chapel, with Bro. Donald Francis of Eastwood Baptist Church officiating. Interment will be in Hill Crest Memorial Cemetery.
Dean was born July 31, 1934 in Pleasant Hill, LA and passed away Friday, April 16, 2021 in Shreveport after a brief illness.
Dean was raised in Pleasant Hill, LA, and was the son of a Pastor. Dean was saved when he was a young boy, and served Christ faithfully. He was always giving away money to anyone who asked for it, even when he did not have the money to give. He raised three boys telling them that if you ever tell a lie, tell it big enough that no one will believe it in the first place. One of his favorite stories was telling about being on the Pleasant Hill track team, but the school was too small to even offer track. He told of throwing the javelin so far that it stuck in the side of a pulp wood truck driving down the highway. Dean also loved basketball and was the coach for the Royal Ambassadors Basket Ball Team for Haughton Baptist Church. He led the team to two state champions.
Dean served in the Air Force and was stationed in Alaska near the Russian border. He was very proud of his service for his country. After serving in the Military, Dean worked as a carpenter and eventually becoming a home builder. There are many houses in Haughton, and south Bossier that were built by him. After several years as a builder, he worked with the Bossier Parish School Board in the cabinet shop. Building furniture was his real passion. While working in the cabinet shop he built desks, book cases, credenzas and even all of the book shelves for entire school libraries. Dean retired from the school board as the maintenance supervisor.
Dean is preceded in death by his parents, Rial Brown and Nettie Brown; both of his brothers, Adrain and Clovis; and a daughter, Carol DeEtte Brown.
Dean is survived by his wife, Verna Reed Brown; sons, Autry Brown and wife Carole, Dennis Brown and wife Gina, Ricky Brown and wife Kim, Charles “Butch” Blue and wife Gilda, Eddie Blue and wife Lea; many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren, other family members, and a host of friends. The grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.
In place of flowers, please make a donation to the Louisiana Baptist Children’s home in Monroe LA, or the Shreveport Bossier Rescue Mission in Shreveport LA.
You may offer your condolences on line at www.hillcrestmemorialfh.com.