John L. Brown

John L. Brown was born May 8, 1954, in Tyler, TX to Merton O. & Anna Brown. He attended and graduated from John Tyler High school and later graduated from The University of Texas at Tyler with a BS in Business Administration. During his youth, John found what would become a lifelong passion for hunting, fishing, working, and helping people. However, his family and the relationships he developed with others would always be the most important things to him. Family was everything to John. He loved helping and encouraging his children and grandchildren. As a father he was an ever-present source of love, positivity, and optimism. Through his own actions we were taught: to have complete faith in the Lord, to be kind to others as well as ourselves, to be honest with ourselves in reflection, to always forgive, to love life, and a plethora of other principles he knew made for a great life. John was a true role model. John would often mentor and help others if he thought they needed a friend or a helping hand. He would treat them as family and do anything he could to help them, even if he went without. John began his career at La Gloria Oil & Gas on June 19, 1975. A few years after starting, he transferred to the Boiler Unit where he spent the next 43 years until his retirement in June of 2020 as a Chief Operator. For John, the Boilers and then the Cat/Boilers was home away from home. He loved the units and all of those he worked with over the years. He formed many lifelong friendships at the Plant and went on countless hunting and fishing trips with these men and their families. Those were some of his most fond memories. John had many friends throughout his life. His love for his friends and people was evident through his countless acts of kindness and selflessness. Of all these friends there were a few that impacted his life the most: Randy Alexander was John’s childhood friend. They grew up together and were the best of friends through thick and thin. They kept in touch throughout his life, and he cherished their friendship. He thought of Doyle Carter, Jeff Gaddis, and Johnny Wilkerson as brothers and spoke of them to his sons as though they were giants. Tim Milligan was like a son to John, and he found joy in helping him in any way he could, even if that meant sinking a bulldozer. Though that “may or may not” have been John. John passed away peacefully on Friday, December 31, 2021, at his home in Lindale. He was preceded in death by his parents, Merton O. & Anna R. Brown, and sister Olivia Dianna “Ann” Drew. John is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, David & Alisha Brown of Lindale and Lance & Allyson Brown of Tyler; sister, Sylvia Brown of Tyler; grandchildren, Brett, Dylan, Jayse, and Lyra Brown; and numerous other loving family members. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later time with longtime friend Doug McQueen as an honorary speaker.

John L. Brown

May 8, 1954 - December 31, 2021