1944 – 2014

NEW GLOUCESTER – Kenneth Brooks Brown, 70, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, April 11, after a 14-year battle with esophageal cancer.

He was born in Ludlow, Mass., on March 27, 1944, a son of Winston and Jeannette (St. Onge) Brown. He was in the last graduating class from New Gloucester High School in 1962. After graduation, he worked at Bates Mill in Lewiston, was a machinist at Pratt and Whitney in Connecticut and then at Crosby Laughlin in Portland. Upon changing jobs, he retired after a long career as a rural route mail carrier in New Gloucester.

Ken was a member of the Masonic Lodge and past trustee of the Eagles Club (FOE) of New Gloucester. Often Ken could be found playing spoons along side a local band at one of the many establishments he visited on the weekends.

An avid horticulturalist with a green thumb, he enjoyed nurturing many plant species from seedling to maturity. His yard was a testament to his love for flowers, his talent for landscaping and his interpretation of shore land zoning. His open disdain for squirrels and chipmunks turned Ken into a domestic hunter, trapper and exterminator, as he attempted in vain to keep his bird feeders full.

He considered himself a “completed” sports fan; he lived to see the Red Sox win a World Series; the Bruins win a Stanley Cup; the Patriots win a Super Bowl; Jimmie Johnson win a NASCAR championship; and claimed he couldn’t be beat at horse shoes.

Tempered with his penetrating sense of humor, Redeye, as he was known by to his friends, had an infinite number of quick-witted one liners ready to share with those who visited him at his home at Sabbathday Lake. He could be found many a morning “earning gas money” with his cribbage board at the kitchen table. He was the happiest trolling around the lake with his dog, Jake, his family and his friends on his pontoon boat “Miss Megan.”

He loved the outdoors, particularly fishing, always looking forward to his trips with Matty to King and Bartlett or wherever they decided to go to “catch the big ones.”

Ken raised three children, Jeri Ripley and husband, Troy, of South Paris, Winston Brown of Bangor and Tracy Brown of Bryant Pond. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Nicholas Ripley and wife, Aimee, of South Paris, Andy Ripley of South Paris, Amber Morin of Bethel, Kayla Morin of Auburn, Ethan Morin of Norway and Rebecca Morin of Bryant Pond; and great-grandsons, Jarrett and Carter. Besides his children, Ken is survived by three brothers, Douglas Brown of New Gloucester, Alan Brown and wife, Sue, of Gray and Thomas Brown and wife, Elizabeth, of New Gloucester; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, his brother, Spencer Brown, and his beloved granddaughter, Megan Ripley.

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude and thanks to the many doctors, nurses and health care professionals who were there with Ken throughout his illness. No amount of words can express our gratitude to his brother, Douglas or his niece, Janet.

A memorial visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 18, at Wilson Funeral Home, 24 Shaker Road, Gray. Memorial donations may be made to Androscoggin Home Health Care and Hospice, 15 Strawberry Avenue, Lewiston, Maine 04240.