Obituaries

 

 

Hugh C. Brown

Died May 10, 2015

LELAND – Hugh Cameron Brown, 87, of Leland passed away Sunday, May 10, 2015 at Munson Hospice House surrounded by his loving family.

  Hugh was born Jan. 31, 1928 in Toronto, Canada, the son of John Duncan Brown and Kathryn (McEwen) Brown.  On June 17, 1950 at the Methodist Church in Reed City, MI, he married his loving wife of sixty four years, Ella M. “Randy” (Randall) Brown, who survives.

  Hugh grew up in Dearborn, MI, where he graduated from the Edison Institute. He received a scholarship to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, after which he served in the U.S. Navy as a submarine sonar technician and on the Henry Gilmore Subtender.  Following his love of music, he attended University of Michigan School of Music, where he met his wife. Hugh worked as an executive at Ford Motor Company for 37 years, which led the family to reside in Dearborn, MI, Greenfield, IN, and Ann Arbor, MI. After he retired from Ford, he worked as a consultant for KenMar Corporation. Hugh and Randy began their next adventure in Leland, MI, where they were drawn to the beauty of the area.

  Hugh’s passions in life were his family and music. He was gracious, cheerful and a sociable man who loved entertaining and went out of his way to put family and friends at ease.  In retirement he volunteered his time with the Leland Community United Methodist Church. He also satisfied a long-time desire by delivering flowers for the Forget-Me-Not shop in Suttons Bay, because he said that usually meant the recipient was celebrating a happy occasion.  He had many other interests, including watching U of M football and Detroit Tigers baseball games, golf, reading, telling jokes and limericks, and trying new wines.

  Music was a constant throughout his life: Hugh was a member of “The Travelers,” a male quartet that performed in Michigan, with the U of M Band and in New York. He and Randy began their life together by performing in Gaslight Village in the Adirondacks, and they performed with the Greenland Singers while in Indiana and the U of M Choral Union in Ann Arbor, as well as lending his tenor voice to church choirs.  If individual selections were not playing, Interlochen Radio was always on in the house.

  Hugh is survived by his wife, Ella; his four children, Archie (Barbara LaHood) Brown, Nancy (and late Michael) Flood, Randall (Carla) Brown, Kathryn “Kat” (James Blaszkowski) Brown; a sister, Margaret Sears; and a sister-in-law, Faith Brown.  He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Archie M. Brown.

  Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay, MI.  A private family burial service will be held later.

  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Leland Community United Methodist Church, PO Box 602, Leland, MI 49654.

  Please share memories with Hugh’s family online at www.martinson.info

  Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.