Donald L. "Jack" Brown, 86, Victorville, CA, died Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, at Apple Valley, CA.

He was born July 7, 1931, southeast of Valley Falls, KS, the son of Edward H. and Marie M. Langston Brown. He graduated from Valley Falls High School in 1949. Don served aboard the USS Whetstone in the US Navy from 1951-54 during the Korean War.

Don was an over-the-road truck driver. He worked for Yellow Freight for 35 years at Barstow, CA. Prior to that he drove for Watson Bros. at Kansas City, MO and then at their new location at Los Angeles, CA. He was a life-time member of Grahem-Herbers Post 3084, Veterans of Foreign Wars in Valley Falls, and was a member of the American Legion at Meadview, AZ.

He married Merettia Joan Pelton, Dec. 17, 1955, at Topeka. She died April 5, 2011. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Betty Smith, Nov. 27, 1991.

Survivors include four sons, Tony Brown, Portland, OR, Jay (Teresa) Brown, Apple Valley, CA, Monte "Skip" (Karen) Brown, Bend, OR, and Phil Leroy Brown, Apple Valley, CA; two daughters, Tina Jo (John) McFarland, Apple Valley, CA, and Jackie Ann (Mike) Leach, Olathe; 14 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and five nieces and nephews.

The Memorial Service for Don and Joan will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, at Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls. Their inurnment will follow at the Valley Falls Cemetery with military honors conducted by Grahem-Herbers Post 3084, VF.W.


Memorial contributions may be made to The Warrior & Family Support Center and sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, PO Box 6, Valley Falls, KS 66088. Don and Joan's grandson, Corey Leach, a US Army soldier, was injured in 2012.