Bart E. Brown

Bart Eugene Brown was born the second son of John Steen and Ida Wells Brown on April 20, 1919 in Hye, TX, and passed away peacefully on November 6, 2012. Bart was fond of saying he was “born in back of the store at Hye,” giving his listener the image that he was born in a manger rather than the lovely Victorian home built by his paternal grandfather, for whom the town was also named. It was this playful and outgoing personality that remained his greatest trait throughout his life. He was much adored by his three sisters and fondly tolerated by his two brothers. He was especially close to his older brother Hiram, with whom he had lasting relationship all their lives.

His father, a civil engineer and graduate of Texas A&M University, married his mother in 1917 and relocated the family to Austin in 1919. Bart and his siblings attended Pease Elementary School and graduated from Austin High School. He was a Boy Scout leader and a member of the Texas National Guard, as well as a charter member of the Northwest Hills United Methodist Church. At the University of Texas, he pledged Sigma Phi Epsilon and majored in architectural engineering.

In 1940, he married Ophelia May North. To this union were born Danna Gene, Idanell and Cynthia Ophelia. After Danna’s birth, he designed and worked on parts for the famous B52 airplane Consolidated Aircraft in Fort Worth – the “best job he ever had!” He served in the United States Army in Hawaii, and frequently sent letters and postcards to his family. Bart and Hiram crossed paths in Honolulu during WWII, where they planned to return to Austin and expand their father’s Austin business. Under their guidance, Cabaniss Brown Furniture became the largest furniture retailer in Central Texas.

Bart was an active member and President of both the Texas Retail Furniture Association and the Kiwanis Club of Austin. After his retirement, he was a member of the Chancellors Council of the University of Texas at Austin and the Blinded Veterans Association in Austin. In the 1960s Bart purchased a small ranch on the South San Gabriel River near Liberty Hill. It continues to be the nucleus for family activities.

Ophelia passed away January 14, 1975, just after Bart had retired. On October 30, 1976 he married Patti Riley in the Chapel of Tarrytown Methodist Church, and became a great stepfather to Michael, Kerry and Shaughn Riley. He was very supportive of Patti’s interior design business and together they enjoyed many exciting travels that came with an international practice.

Bart is predeceased by his parents and four of his siblings; his stepdaughter, Kerry Riley; mother- and father-in-law, Ruth and Archie Faulkner; and son-on-law, Charles Chappell.

He is survived by a large family: his wife Patti; his sister Kitty Taylor and husband Boyd; sister-in-law Lillian Brown; his daughters Danna and husband Nelson Malcolm, Idanell and husband James Allman and Cynthia Chappell; step-children Mike Riley and wife Pamela, Shaughn Riley, and Nelson’s daughter Robyn Wilson and husband, Todd Luft; his grandchildren Robert Langston and wife Cynthia, Kelly Barks and husband Kurt, David Allman and wife Summer, Marshall Allman and wife Jamie, and Katie Riley; and great-grandchildren Anais Langston, John Langston, Thomas Langston, Catherine Langston and Joslin Paige Barks; as well as by numerous nieces and nephews, and their husbands and children.

A funeral service will be conducted at three o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 9th of November 2012, in the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas. Interment will follow in Austin Memorial Park, Austin, Texas.

Remembrances may be sent to Cook-Walden Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made in Bart’s name may be to Tarrytown Methodist Church; the Austin Chapter of the Blinded Veterans Association, c/o Kevin Jackson, 5717 Taylorwood Drive, Austin, Texas 78749; or charity of choice.

Condolences may be sent to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.