Steven Dean Brown of Echo died on Dec. 17, 2024 in Echo at the age of 71.
He was born on Dec. 28, 1952 in Ogden, Utah to Mildred and Ronald Brown.
Steven died overlooking the farmland he had once farmed while working for Don Brown Farms. At the time of his death, he was working for HNS Rock Products driving semi-truck. He was filling out his logs and getting ready to head out. Steven could not stand getting old or the thought of sitting at home; he loved driving the big trucks and being active.
His favorite childhood memories included playing down by the river and going wherever he wanted. He enjoyed going to Aunt Barb’s during the summer with his sister Nan. Steven moved to Moses Lake after high school and went to work for Uncle Don on the farm. While driving spud truck and on the advice of his brother Ron, he stopped at a gas station to talk to a girl that Ron described as “cute as a button.” Steven would stop and buy Tootsie Rolls as an excuse to talk to Laurie. Steven and Laurie were married in 1973 and eventually moved to Oregon to continue working for Don on the farm. Echo was also where they started a family of their own. He always wanted to be a dad and was an exceptional one. He loved coaching and was able to coach his kids in basketball and other sports. Steven and Laurie had six children: Stephanie, who was taken from them at the young age of 6; Scott and Daionna Brown and their children (Annelise, Ellaynah and Allyson, daughters of Scott and Colleen); Olivia and Lawson; Elizabeth and Alan Curtis and their children, Ryker, Dexter, Rogue, Maverick and Kaitlyn, who is married to Jacob, and they have a daughter of their own, Hazel; David and Jenni Brown and their boys, Keagan and Corben; Aaron and Kara Brown; and Tyler and Alyssa Brown and their children, Zoey, Parker, and Theo.
While being a dad was what he always wanted to be, he was the best grandpa to his “amazing and smart grandkids,” whether it was fishing, attending sporting events or jumping on a go kart to show he still had it. He loved staying at hotels with a pool so that his grandkids could come swim, which he always joined in on. He truly enjoyed being a grandpa, and he was great at it. Steven believed that someone should always be there; if a parent could not make it to a game or event, he was there, even if it meant driving for hours to watch. He was always determined that his grandchildren would see a familiar face in the stands. That face always had a huge smile and a positive word of advice for them.
Steven was determined not to grow old; he continued to be active, whether it was cutting down trees and turning them into walking sticks or canes, or even playing in the annual turkey bowl at the age of 72. He did not want to slow down. He considered himself young and was always up for anything. As he did his best to stay ahead of father time, it was eventually able to catch up with his love Laurie. Laurie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and as it progressed, he made the difficult decision to move her to Guardian Angel homes. And while some or most would breathe a sigh of relief and let them take over, Steven did not. He became a regular, he was there daily since she moved in over two years ago. He was always there to sit with his love and put her to bed each night. Even when he was no longer the husband she once knew, but “just the guy that was always there,” he did not stop going. He hung on to the moments where mom would recognize him or in true Laurie fashion turn and say, “You dork.” She would always look for his white truck to pull up, and if even for a split second, she knew he was there to see her. His life revolved around being able to be there for her each night. He truly was the epitome of what every husband should strive to be.
Steven will always be remembered for his positive outlook and his uncanny ability to start a conversation with anyone he met and make new friends wherever he went. And once you were his friend you were in for life, and that meant that if you were having a hard time or needed to talk, you were getting a phone call or text. He always seemed to know, and he was always willing to listen. One of his favorite things was to dress as Santa and volunteer his time.
He loved making people happy and he fit the role perfectly. We could not have asked for a better father and will miss our dad every single day.
Steven is survived by his wife, Laurie; his brothers, Dave and Ron; and his children, Scott, Elizabeth, David, Aaron and Tyler.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and Ron; his sister, Nan; and his daughter, Stephanie.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1035 S.E. Ninth St., Hermiston.
Burial will follow with a dedication of the grave at the Echo Cemetery where he will be laid to rest beside his daughter, Stephanie. If you knew Steven at all and would like to pay your respects, please come. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Please share memories of Steve with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
