Lyle Lewis Brown of Hermiston passed away in Hermiston on Jan. 13, 2026 at the age of 94.
He was born on Nov. 5, 1931 in La Grande to Clarence and Esther Holcher Brown.
Lyle lived in La Grande during his early childhood but the family eventually moved to Pendleton. He attended schools in Pendleton and graduated from Pendleton High School. After high school, he served in the U.S. Air Force, was active during the Korean War and was stationed in Europe.
After his honorable discharge he continued his education, completing his associate degree at El Camino Community College. He later received his bachelor’s degree at Humboldt State College and his master’s degree in range management at the University of Nevada in Reno, Nev. He then worked for the federal government in range management for the next five years.
Lyle first moved to Hermiston in the early 1960s, when he moved his family to help his brother in construction work. In the late 1960s he moved to Sparks, Nev. to help his in-laws run a cattle ranch. He moved back to Hermiston in the mid 1970s, where he had resided since. He owned and operated Hermiston Travel Trailers for several years during the mid-1970s until the 1980s. He worked as a business owner in the Hermiston area for the remainder of his career.
Lyle was an avid golfer who enjoyed going to the golf course daily and had two holes-in-one in his lifetime, the last of which was at the age of 89. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting for many years.
Lyle married Nancy C. Jones in Reno, Nev. on July 8, 1961.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nancy; son, Gary (Kellie) Brown; daughter, Becky Brown; two grandsons, Dale (Marissa) Brown and Ty (Jenna) Brown; granddaughter, Morgan (Cordell) Patrick; great-grandson, Hudson Brown; and many extended family members.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in the Burns Mortuary Chapel, 685 W. Hermiston Ave.
A celebration of life will follow in the Maxwell Event Center in Hermiston.
Family suggests memorial contributions be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
