Preston Eugene Brown

Preston Eugene Brown, born Feb. 7, 1936, was a longtime resident of Baton Rouge and native of Hinds County, Miss. He passed away on Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, after a lengthy battle with lung cancer. He was a retired carpenter and a loader for Comite Dirt Pit. In his earlier years, he was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish. He was a devoted husband who loved his family and a faithful friend to many. He accepted the Catholic faith late in life and treasured it devoutly. Preston was a kind and loving person who will be missed by many. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Wednesday, Feb. 10, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with recitation of the rosary at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue on Thursday at Our Lady of Sorrow Catholic Church, 3475 N. Sherwood Forest Blvd., from 9:30 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Jean Michael Morel, celebrant. Burial in Greenoaks Memorial Park. Survived by his wife, Cynthia Middleton Brown, of Baker; mother-in-law, Mary Myrtle Bouquet Middleton, of Baker; sisters, Peggy Brown-Marx and husband Henry, of Port Gibson, Miss., and Charlene Brown Love Stokes and husband Jerry, of Mertzon, Texas; brothers, Ovie Lee Brown and wife Linda, of Baker, Jerry Brown and wife Barbara, of Hazlehurst, Miss., R.D. Brown and wife Bessie, of Mendenhall, Miss., and Allen Brown and wife Kathy, of Port Gibson, Miss.; stepson-in-law, Emanual Hernandez Sr., of Baker; stepgranddaughter, Linda Hernandez Guidroz and husband Jimmy, of Chaneyville; and stepgrandson, Emanual "Manny" Hernandez Jr., of Clinton. Also, special friends Ashli and Shane Rush, of Zachary; devoted brother-in-law, Jimmy Middleton and wife Debra, of Walker; and numerous nieces, great-nieces and great-nephews. Preceded in death by his parents, Virgia Carroll Rucker Brown and Jay Oliver Brown; and first wife, Ruby Ahrend Brown. Pallbearers will be Ovie Lee Brown, R.D. Brown, Allen Brown, Jimmy Middleton, Jessie Floyd and Shane Rush. Honorary pallbearers are Jerry Brown, Manny Hernandez Jr., Tommy Floyd, Norman Norwood, Larry DeLoach and M.C. Martin. The family would like to thank St. Joseph Hospice for their care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Joseph Hospice.