Jack Wayne Brown, longtime Del Rio area rancher, passed away peacefully to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at the age of 85 at his home. Services will be at the First United Methodist Church, where Jack was a lifetime member. Jack is preceded in death by his parents Frank & Beatrice Brown.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Lou Emma “Snookie” Whitehead Brown; daughter, Lovelyn Wharton & husband David; daughter, Linn Dutton; son, Wayne Brown & wife Shannon, all of Del Rio; daughter, Jackie Lee & husband David of Sonora, TX; grandchildren: Misty Hanselman & husband Ray, Lindsay Dixon and the late Tyler Dixon, and Coalson Brown & Lauren Brown, all of Del Rio; great-grandchildren: Mason & Miles Hanselman and Luke & Elijah Dixon, all of Del Rio. He is also survived by his brother, Frank Brown and wife Alayne of Portland, OR. Jack was born December 31, 1932 in Alpine, TX.
His father worked as a telegraph operator for the railroad but passed away when he was only 4 years old, leaving his mother, Beatrice, to raise two small boys. He grew up spending most of his time with his grandfather, Ike Billings, at the ranch in Langtry, TX. He graduated from Del Rio High School in 1950, where he played football and met his high school sweetheart, Snookie.
After his graduation from Texas Tech University, they were married November 21, 1953 in Lubbock, TX where they lived for a short time. They then moved to Loma Alta, an area of the ranch country between Sonora, Carta Valley, and Del Rio, where they spent their life together ranching since the early ‘50s. Jack was one of the last of the old-time ranchers and raised Rambouillet sheep, Angora mohair goats, cattle, and horses.
He will be remembered for being a family man and for his strong work ethic that led to him becoming very successful in his industry and highly respected throughout ranching communities. Year end and year out he led the top premium price for short wool in Val Verde County, and his mohair was just as well noted. His top-quality product was recognized with an award from Governor Dolph Briscoe while serving on the Texas Agriculture Governor’s Committee.
He also proudly served on the ASCS Board, was a stockholder of the Val Verde Wool & Mohair Company and served as chairman for many years of the Val Verde County 4-H Livestock Committee. He was also an active member of the Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers Association, the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, the Davis Mountain Trans-Pecos Heritage Association, and the Masonic Lodge for over 50 years. A very special thanks to Salvador Rosas and Raymundo Villalpando, Jack’s workhands for over 30 years of dedicated service.
Also, thanks to the special care given by Humberto, Lanessa, Zee, & Israel who enabled Jack to spend his last few weeks of life at home surrounded by his family. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 21, 2018 with family receiving friends from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Immediate and extended family will gather for graveside services on Saturday, December 22, 2018 at 9 a.m. at the Masonic Cemetery.
The Masonic Funeral Ritual will follow at 9:15 a.m. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. John Adam Fluth, Jr. as the officiant. All are welcomed to attend.
Reception to follow at the Val Verde Wool & Mohair Warehouse at 12 noon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Del Rio Masonic Lodge, First United Methodist Church Youth Group, or the Val Verde County 4-H. Serving at Pallbearers will be: David Wharton, David Lee, Wayne’Mar Brown, Coalson Brown, Ray Hanselman, and Mason Hanselman.
Honorary Pallbearers will be: Henry Mills, F.H. “Tuffy” Whitehead, L.D. “Bubba” Whitehead, Dennis Funderburgh, Jimmy Sanders, Bill Cauthorn, Darrell Davis, David Winters, David Edwards, Jimmy Sellers, Frankie Studer, Pat Martin, Raymond Quigg, Gary Leonard, W.L. “Bud” Whitehead, Hughes Schwanecke, Gerald Ross, Martin Wardlaw, Ralph Mayer, Clay Dissler, Randal Dissler, Butch Larson, Lee Bloodworth, Jay Taylor, Hadley Wardlaw, Art Looney, Justin Burk, & Conice Boenicke. Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of G.W. Cox Memorial Funeral Home, 114 Fletcher Drive, Del Rio, Texas. For more information you may contact us at (830) 775-2000 or www.
gwcoxmemorialfuneralhome.com. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Jack Wayne Brown please visit our Sympathy Store.
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