Michael Lewis Brown

On August 17, 1947 in Renton, WA., Michael Lewis Brown was born, joining his mother and father, Mabel and Lewis and his brother, Lloyd to complete their family. They moved around for his father’s work, he was a pipefitter, living in Astoria, Tri Cities, WA. , Gates, Or., where they ran the local tavern and finally settling in Portland, Or.

Michael was a friendly, active young man, even becoming a prince in the Junior Rose Parade. He graduated from Centennial High School where he enjoyed wrestling, football, baseball and weightlifting. And all the usual teenage activities, such as girls. He began an interest in classic cars and worked at his family’s plumbing store on Division St. and worked in gas stations to earn money to pursue his growing interest in classic cars.

He was a typical car guy who was always looking for that one special car that made him proud, including a 1964 ½ Red GTO, several Corvettes, even a classic Corvair. And Trucks, lots of trucks. He taught his family to look for that hidden car behind a barn or in a yard that might someday become his. He has a 1965 Rangoon Red Mustang Fastback he found in a yard and a 1964 ½ Rangoon Red Mustang Convertible that sat in a barn for 12 years. His baby is his 1953 Chevy Coup with all the trimmings that has won its share of trophies over the years.

Mike married the mother of his two sons, Jill Romaine in 1969. They are Dana and Greg, who are very special to him and he spent many hours with them as they were growing up waterskiing, camping, working on cars, going to football games and wrestling matches.

Mike joined the Army during the Vietnam era and was on the weightlifting team in Germany before he was deployed to Viet Nam. He was in country 1968-69. He completed a fire science program at PCC and began his career at District 10 which later became part of the City of Portland Fire Department. As a Lieutenant he had many fond memories of the comradery with his fellow firefighters. They all became lifelong friends and grew their families together camping, waterskiing and having get togethers. Station 25 was his last station before he retired in 1998. In retirement many of them still continue these relationships, mostly on the golf course or at car shows, get together’s or snowbirding in Arizona.

Mike met Andrea on a blind date in 1990, they dated for 6 years and married in 1996. He moved to Vancouver, where she lived, with her two daughters, Alexis and Rebecca. He grew to love Vancouver almost as much as Portland where his career as a Portland Firefighter endeared him to the city forever.

The past five years Mike was plagued with health problems and he passed away on Thursday August 11, 2022. He is loved and will be missed by all, as he made friends wherever he went. A very heartfelt thank you to everyone at Sharmel Adult Family Home and Peacehealth Hospice who all treated Mike with love and dignity.