Bob was born May 31, 1928 in Klamath Falls to Raymond C. Brown and Goldie P. (Sparks) Brown. The family soon moved to La Grande and later to a farm in Irrigon.
When Bob was in lower grade school, his father nearly lost an arm when dragged through a barbed wire fence by a run-away horse. Bob’s parents later divorced, and he and his sister Jean lived with their mother, stepfather Floyd Provancha, and step-sisters, first in the Eugene area and then various places and states picking crops. This resulted in attending many different schools each year. In 1941, from Twin Falls, Idaho, the family moved back to the farm in Irrigon which was owned by Bob’s Grandfather Sparks.
It was in Irrigon that he met future wife Ellen Fraser who moved there from Idaho in 1942, since her father had started work the year before at the Umatilla Ordnance Depot.
Bob graduated in 1947 from Irrigon High School and started classes that fall at Eastern Oregon College in La Grande where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and later a master’s degree. During the years at Eastern Oregon College, he served in the National Guard.
Bob managed Hermiston’s Head Start summer program during some years between 1951-1983 when he was an elementary teacher in Hermiston School District #8. Various grade levels were taught at West Park, Rocky Heights, and Highland Hills. While at West Park School, he was a Boy Scout leader from students in high school.
Until Bob’s rapid decline in health, which included a painful inoperable spine and shoulders, he was able to be an active member for the First Christian Church.
Bob’s hobbies/special interests included: fishing with friends and family; flying; camping; hiking and back-packing, especially in the Wallowa Mountains and Mount Rainier; climbing Mt. Hood in 1974 with wife Ellen and son Daryl; operating a small sailboat in the 1980’s; learning Morse Code and becoming a ham operator; bow-hunting with friends; Boy Scout leader (high school age); doing woodworking, building and installing cabinets and workbenches in the garage and shop; doing photography; and being an avid reader.
Bob survived by wife Ellen; daughter Vickie Hartley; son Daryl Brown; six grandchildren: Jeff (Astri) Brown, Matt (Leslie) Brown, Scott Brown, Eric Brown, Angela Hartley, and Jason Hartley; daughter-in-laws Peggy Brown, Sue Brown; sister Jean Pinney; step-sister Patty Smith; several cousins.
Preceding Bob in death were his Parents, step-father Floyd Provancha, step-sisters Mary Joyce, Donna and Barbara, and his son Gary.
A Celebration on Life Service will be held March 12, 2016 at the First Christian Church in Hermiston at 11:00 A.M.
A private family burial was held at the Hermiston Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider cards or a donation for researching a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, which claimed son Gary in April 2015.
Please sign the online guest book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
