Smith Center - Lawrence "Larry" E. Brown, 79, passed away Saturday, February 24, 2018 at Good Samaritan Hospital, Kearney, NE.
He was born September 23, 1938 in Sterling, CO, the son of Marvin Franklin and Donna Faye (Hammond) Brown. On June 4, 1956 he married Sharon Fitz in Inavale, NE, two this union they were blessed with two girls, Debra and Lori.
Larry was a member of the First Christian Church, Lions Club, Northwest Kansas Area on Aging, Silver Hair Legislature and past mayor of Smith Center. He was a museologist and had worked at the Hastings Planetarium, Hutchinson Planetarium, Fort Worth Texas Museum, started the children's museum in Denver and also a museum in Louisville, KY.
He loved talking politics and visiting with anybody he possibly could, his family had to put a "no politics" ban during family dinners or holidays, otherwise they couldn't get a word in edgewise. His family said that there was nothing ever quiet about Larry, "he did loud very well". Larry loved to talk about the weather and would keep his family informed about what the weather was doing even if they didn't live in Smith Center. He often joked about being the local paperboy and Mayor of Smith Center at the same time. He enjoyed being Santa Claus for many years in Smith Center and delivering the Salina Journal Newspaper up until his passing. He loved his wife, two daughters and all his grandchildren and great grandchildren dearly and would always call them to find out how they were doing and if the grandchildren were okay.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Dixie Lee Everist.
He is survived by his wife Sharon Brown of Smith Center; two daughters, Debra (Bob) McMurdo of Limon, CO, Lori Brown of Raleigh, NC; a brother, Garth Brown of Morgan Hill, CA; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 2, 2018 at First Christian Church, Smith Center, KS, with Pastor Randy Hill officiating. Visitation will be held Thursday, March 1, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at All Faiths Funeral Chapel, Smith Center and Friday, March 2nd from 9:00 a.m. until service time at the church. Memorials may be given to the Lawrence E. Brown Memorial Fund and can be sent in care of the funeral chapel.