Francis "Mickey" Brown Jr.

He was preceded in death by his father, Francis D. Brown; his mother, Eunice Brown Ferland; his eldest sister, Sharon Smith; his eldest brother, Charles Brown; and his youngest brother, Bernard “Bernie” Brown.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Anita A. Brown; daughter Darlene Brown and fiancé Paul Neumann; and daughter Renee Brown-Cheng and spouse Otto Cheng; and his younger sister, Cathy Brown.

Mickey will always be remembered for his zest for life and travel, his service to his country and community, and above all, his love and devotion to his family. He had a gift for making people feel special and played so many roles in people’s lives as a husband, father, church volunteer and mentor. His ability to encourage and support others knew no bounds.

Mickey met Anita in Oahu, Hawaii, one of the most romantic locations imaginable, during one of the most tenuous times in history, the Vietnam conflict. Anita and her sisters had moved from Massachusetts to spend time with their Marine brother, Gerry, who was on leave. As fate would have it, Mickey was simultaneously stationed by the Navy in Oahu.

Thus began their friendship, which blossomed into a lifetime of love. Anita renamed him from Francis to Mickey, as she thought he looked more like the actor Mickey Rooney, versus a “Francis/Frank”.

Their spark was first ignited when Anita asked Mickey for a ride to church. Their shared faith led to weekly trips to mass together, where their bond grew stronger. As the days passed, they became inseparable, leading them to pledge their lives together on October 5, 1968.

After faithfully serving his country in the Navy, Mickey and Anita returned to Cape Cod, Massachusetts to be closer to her family, where they welcomed their first daughter, Darlene, whom they adopted from Seoul, Korea, on November 4, 1976.

Two years later, the warmth of their family grew after the arrival of their younger daughter, Renee, on Veteran’s Day, 1978.

Mickey and Anita dedicated their lives to making the childhoods of their daughters feel magical. Through thick and thin, they never missed the opportunity to pour every ounce of love into a family outing, birthday, Christmas, and every other occasion to express their never-ending devotion to their daughters.

Mickey lived life exuberantly, with humility and service, and inspired all those who had an opportunity to know him, in particular his two daughters.

His tireless work ethic, faith in God and resolute service, along with his personal sacrifice for family first, demonstrated his humility and love for others, even with his last breath.

His unending love for Anita was the fuel that gave him the ability to overcome various struggles in their life together. We will never forget his sheer bravery exerted in his last hours, minutes, and seconds that he spent trying to afford more time to be here and care for Anita.

There are many things people accomplish in life that they’re proud of, and our father is no different. We are humbled and proud to be called his daughters and to have experienced the depths of love and honor he demonstrated throughout life.

He was truly a man of service. Be it serving his country, his church, his family, or his community, he had a genuine servant heart.

He loved volunteering his time at St. Vincent De Paul and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, always trying to find ways to live a life of gratitude by giving and sharing with others.

It would make him smile to have, in lieu of flowers, donations, if so desired, offered to St. Vincent De Paul organization (16075 Evans Rd., Selma, TX 78154).

Two of his favorite poems were “Footprints” and “Serenity Prayer.”

He has certainly left indelible footprints in our souls, and we will keep this prayer close to our hearts to remind us of the incomparable strength he demonstrated his entire life.

A visitation for Mickey will be held Monday, November 20, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Sunset North Funeral Home, 910 North Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, TX 78232 followed by a vigil & rosary at 6:00 PM. A funeral mass will occur Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 16075 N Evans Rd, Selma, TX 78154.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.SunsetNorthFuneralHome.com for the Brown family.