Gene Gordon Brown
August 24, 1926 - October 14, 2002
Obituary
Gene Gordon Brown
On August 24, 1926, the world became a brighter place with the birth of Gene Gordon Brown to Dr. Floyd and Lora Juanita Howell Brown in Los Angeles. Gene joined his older brother, Ansen J. Jerry Brown and they became inseparable brothers and friends throughout their lives. Gene entered a military academy early in his life and fulfilled his mother’s wishes of becoming a musician and percussionist. Gene lost both of his parents during his teens but never lost the love and respect he had for them. After graduation, he joined the United States Army paratroops and attended officer training school at Fort Benning, Georgia. He served in the Pacific Theater of Operations in the Aleutians during WWII. Following his military discharge, Gene pursued his love of music becoming a professional and playing with such greats as Les Brown, Harry James, Stan Kenton, Xavier Cugat and Red Norvel. During one of his numerous road trips as a musician, Gene played a ‘gig’ in Billings where he met the ‘twinkle in his eye’ and the love of his life, Dolores ‘Dode’ Lorraine Fellows. They forged a union in marriage in June 1948 that has spanned 54 years. During their early years, he grew to love and respect his father and mother-in-law, Joseph D. and Lydia Fellows. Always the consummate educator, he trained his father-in-law how to play military rudimental drumming and they played with the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corp Marching Band. Gene would go on to compete in drumming competitions and usually came away with the first place awards. Gene attended Eastern Montana College in Billings and attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in education. He worked in the music and theater business, managing various Fox Theaters. Gene and Dode moved to Helena in 1959 where Gene managed the Marlowe Theater. He left the theater in the early ’60s and began teaching music in the Helena area schools. Gene always referred to his students as his cherubs, and could not go anywhere on any day without someone walking up and saying, ‘Hi Mr. Brown, I was in your choir.’ In addition to his teaching, he also worked as a news anchor with KBLL TV, emcee for the ‘Classics in the Night’, Lewis and Clark County Fair Commission, a board member of the Helena School District, Board of Trustees for School District No. 1, writing critiques for the Independent Record of musical performances, and was a percussionist in many local bands and musical organizations, including the Helena Symphony Orchestra and the Helena City Band. Gene was a member of Toastmasters, winning many first place competitions for public speaking. He also participated in Helena Kiwanis, SCORE, and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Gene was famous for his ‘poison pen’ letters to the editor. After their retirement, Gene and Dode spent time traveling in their Bounder motorhome throughout the country, with Dode driving and Gene navigating. They actively participated in their Bounder group, and attended many rallies. The most recent one a few weeks ago in Colorado. Gene and Dolores’ three children are Kerry Gene Brown, Kim Gordon Brown and Kelly Todd Brown. Gene passed his love of music on to all three of his children. Gene is also survived by two grandchildren, Kory Gene Brown and Christina Gantt; and Kerry’s wife, Gail. Kory and his grandfather were very close. Gene was a very tender, caring and respectful man, and wanted nothing but the best for everyone. He loved Helena and Montana’s great history, and will always be loved and remembered by his family, friends and the students cherubs that he taught. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, October 17, at Retz Funeral Home Chapel. A private family interment will be held at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery. The family prefers memorial contributions be made to the PeeWee Weber Music Scholarship Fund. Contact Tom Miller, 1822 Cannon, Helena, MT 59601.
Dad,
From the first time you taught me to tie my shoes to the time you chased the hawk through the ramps at the Marlow Theater or the time you so bravely rode the sled with our family through the woods in Grizzley Gulch or swam in waters where there was only your sons to protect you, to the last time I saw you when you kissed me goodbye and told me how much you love me, I will always consider you my hero and my guiding lite through this life I live. Thanks Dad!