Jerrold Conrad Brown (Jerry),
51, of Apache Junction, Arizona passed away peacefully and unexpectedly at his
home on Monday, February 19, 2007. Jerry was born in Washington, D.C. on March
26, 1955 and grew up in the Kansas City area; Bangkok, Thailand and Hong Kong
where he graduated from Hong Kong International School in 1973. While in high
school he played rugby and was nominated to attend the American Presidential
Classroom in Washington, D.C. Like his father before him, Jerry was active in
Boy Scouts and achieved his Eagle Scout designation in 1971. In 1970 he shared
honors with his sister when together they were awarded the Carol Bateman
Cotillion Cup by the American Club of Hong Kong. He pursued his advanced studies
in Los Angeles, California attending Pierce College before graduating with a
degree in Airframe and Power plant Maintenance from Northrop University
Institute of Technology in 1980. He began his career in the aerospace industry
as a technical writer with Hughes Helicopter in Long Beach, before moving to
Mesa in 1980 as a Systems Analyst III for McDonnell Douglas. The company was
acquired by Boeing and Jerry worked on the Apache Helicopter program as a Senior
Tech Writer until health concerns led to his early retirement in March 2006.
During his 24 years with Boeing Jerry was awarded numerous professional
recognitions for his commitment, dedication and professional conduct by his
superiors and peers. An avid golfer and outdoorsman Jerry spent retirement
traveling and enjoying time with his family and friends. He was a member of the
Apache Junction Elks Lodge #2349 and also the Kennedy's Disease Association,
traveling to their national conference in Atlanta and participating in a
clinical trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda,
Maryland. He was preceded in death by his father, William C. Brown of Sun City
and is survived by his mother, Ada Mae Brown, Sun City and his sister, Barbara
Harris, Castle Rock, Colorado as well as many loving friends at Boeing. A
memorial celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, March 31, 2007 at 11
a.m. in the Faith Presbyterian Church chapel, 16000 N. Del Webb Blvd., Sun City,
Arizona. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial tributes to the
Kennedy's Disease Association, P.O. Box 1105, Coarsegold, CA. 93614-1105,
www.kennedysdisease.org
Published in The Arizona Republic on 3/7/2007.