HARTFORD – Lester Arthur Brown, Jr., 86, formally a resident of Hartford, went into the arms of his Lord and Savior on December 22, 2013 at Fort Hudson Health Care Facility in Fort Edward.
Born on February 25, 1927, in Dunham’s Basin, he was the son of the late Lester and Sarah Mason Brown.
Lester married Joyce Wallace on November 23, 1953, in the First Presbyterian Church in Glens Falls. They spent 20 years together until her death in July of 1974. They had eight wonderful children.
He later met and married Joyce (Morehouse) Day in the West Hebron Presbyterian Church, on July 5, 1975.
Les graduated from Hudson Falls High School in 1944. He served in the War of Occupation in Italy from 1945-46. For 25 years, Les worked as a Corrections Officer at the Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Comstock, retiring in 1980. He developed many dear friends while working there.
Along with raising his large family, Les took advantage of life’s opportunities, and had many hobbies. He was a true outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, making maple syrup, camping at Cedar River Flow, canoeing, and hiking. Boris River was one of his favorite places. He also took his children to the Wallace Camp in Minerva. During the fall, Les spent many hours hunting in Minerva with the Wallace family men.
Throughout the years, and after his retirement, Les and Joyce camped, traveled together cross country, and toured all the states with the exception of Hawaii.
Les and his father built three homes. Later, Les built his own home in Hartford and also assisted his children with building their own homes. He was an avid reader of Western novels, enjoyed watching John Wayne movies, and solved the daily puzzles in the paper. He also crafted many wooden treasures for his family.
He was predeceased by his parents, his first wife of 20 years, his sisters, Eunice, Jean and Betsy and his daughter, Mary’s companion, Jack Bracken.
He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Joyce Morehouse Day Brown, and his sisters Dorothy Purdy and Lois Floyd; his eight beloved children; Christine and Brian Jones, Gregory and Suzanne Brown, Russell and Roberta Brown, Terry and Carol Brown, John and Rubenia Brown, Amy and Paul Yole, Mary Brown, and Martha and Patrick Smith. Additionally, he leaves behind four step-children; Jessica Day, Jane and Daniel Dorrer, Marvin and Albert Day, and Kristine and Leroy Magee; 29 grandchildren: Matthew (Adriane) Jones, Steven (Amanda) Jones, Nathan (Paige) Jones, Scott Brown, Jacob (Amber) Brown, Sarah Brown, Joel (Danielle) Brown, Jared (Kimberly) Brown, Alexander (Samantha) Brown, Andre and Dillon Brown, Nicholas and Justin Affinito, Benjamin and Andrea Smith, Brian (Rachel) O’Hara, Jessica (Dan) Shiels, Michael (Allyssa) Yole, Ashley (Bo) Yole, Alyssa (Jesse) Arlen, Ashley (Steven) Townsend, Marta Townsend, Megan (Cory) Dorrer, Sarah Dorrer, Corey Day, Marcus Day, Geraldine Day, Maurice Magee and Jenine Magee; nine great-grandchildren; Mason and Lillian Jones, Ella Jones, Jayce Jones, Kennedy Shiels, Olivia Brown, Abby Brown, Alivia Brummagyn, and Camryn Arlen; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Donald and Beverly Morehouse, Donald and Marcia Corriveau, Marina Wallace and Deborah Wallace; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
At his request, there will be no calling hours.
Memorial Services will be held at the Hartford United Methodist Church on Saturday, December 28th at 11:00. Following the service, there will be a Celebration of Les’s Life at the Hartford Fire Company on State Route 40 in Hartford.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 2 Pine West Plaza, Albany, NY 12205 or the Hartford United Methodist Church, PO Box 16, Hartford, NY 12838 or the Hartford Volunteer Fire Company, 8118 State Route 40, Hartford, NY 12838.