Larry "Butch" Joseph Brown Jr.

Larry Joseph Brown Jr. “Butch” 54, of Indian Rocks Beach, passed away on Sunday February 26, 2023 peacefully at his home. A celebration of life will be held at his house on Indian Rocks Beach on April 29.

Butch was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania near the campus of Penn State University to Lana Brown (Klovacs) and Larry Brown on December 14, 1968. Butch was the oldest of four children. As a child he attended Loyalsock Valley Elementary and Montoursville Middle School just outside of Williamsport Pennsylvania, which no doubt, fueled his love of baseball. When his family moved to Florida he continued at Buchannan Junior High School and Chamberlain High School until his family moved to Pinellas County and he transferred to Largo High School.

Butch was always an athlete. He began wrestling at a young age. In his senior year at Largo High School, he won the Florida State Wrestling Championship in the 102 pound weight class.

Butch attended college at the University of South Florida where he studied some, but also discovered the sport of Ultimate Frisbee. While at USF, he began working in the pool industry with a few college buddies.

Butch worked hard and found many successes; both in pool building and the sports that occupied his spare time. Butch played for several competitive Ultimate Frisbee teams from Tampa, Miami, Gainesville, Jacksonville and even Minnesota. Butch helped lead the Miami Masters team to a National Championship and a World Championship in Turku, Finland where they competed as the USA Masters team. He was an excellent beach volleyball player, with many tournament wins, often with his little brother. He was an avid Buccaneers football fan, he loved the Tampa Bay Lightning and was a dedicated Yankees fan - we still loved him.

Butch was the life of the party. He was gregarious and extremely generous. It was not uncommon for him to buy a round of shots or Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stouts for the crowd.

It was at a St. Patrick’s Day party that Butch met his wife Melanie. Their bond grew quickly and they were a perfect match. They enjoyed the life they created together on the beach. Spending time on the water chasing snook or enjoying a topless Jeep ride. He loved being a father figure for Melanie’s children and relished the time he spent with his nieces and nephews.

Butch had a unique ability to put a smile on your face. He truly loved his teammates, friends, colleagues, and family. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents Joseph and Gertrude Brown and Louis and Lena Klovacs.

Butch is survived by his wife Melanie, his step daughter Alaina LeBlanc, his father Larry Brown, his mother Lana Brown (Klovacs) his siblings Louis “Woody” Brown, Leslie Horne, Lee Anne Forster, his nephews Austin, Colton, Zach, Trey, Wyland, and Sawyer, and his nieces Rylee, Ayla, and Brighton.