Hubert Norton Brown

Hubert Norton Brown passed away peacefully on October 26, 2024, at the age of 98 in Las Vegas, Nevada with his son Thomas (Tom) Brown and his wife Vivian at his side. Hubert was born in Tully, New York on October 11, 1926, one of four siblings born to William H. Brown and Hazel Verra Emmons Miller. Even though he was just 4 pounds at birth and the doctor claimed there was an issue with his heart, Hubert defied all the odds living to 98 years of age. He loved basketball and excelled at any sport he tried, eventually becoming an outstanding golfer in his 30’s. He even qualified several times for the Senior Olympics.

During the Great Depression, Hubert’s mother raised her 4 children alone and Hubert and his siblings persevered through some extraordinary and challenging times. Hubert often spoke about how his brother, Bill, stepped up and shouldered the burden of taking care of the family at just 9 years old, including hunting to provide for the family. The family lived in a converted barn. His mother and sisters taught him how to read.

Hubert could not wait to enlist for service during World War II and asked his mother to sign his enlistment documents in order to enter service at age 17. While his brother Bill served heroically with the 22nd Marine Regiment earning the purple heart, Hubert joined the Navy and proudly served aboard the USS Scania AKA 40 sailing from Pearl Harbor in 1945 to Tarawa, Majuro and Kwajalein. He also saw duty on Canton Island, Espiritu Santo, Eniwetok, and Wake Island.

When Hubert returned from military service, he took advantage of the GI Bill by attending watchmaking school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In order to graduate, the students had to make a working watch from scratch which Hubert was able to do. From there Hubert moved to Cazenovia, New York where he put his watchmaking and watch repair skills to productive use. He eventually bought the store. Hubert opened a second store in Manlius, New York and later sold the Cazenovia store. He proudly told the story of how he was the first guy in town to sell color TVs!

In 1971 after selling his store, Hubert moved across country to Horizon City near El Paso, Texas where he had previously golfed on vacation. During this time, he did trade work for most of the major jewelers in El Paso until again buying another jewelry store. Near the end of his time in El Paso, Hubert met his partner and companion for almost 35 years, Mildred (Millie) Nolan.

In 1991, Hubert and Millie moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where they bought a home and he continued his trade craft in watch repair. They both took advantage of the year-round sunshine that Las Vegas offers to enjoy as much golf as possible.

One of the highlights of his life was taking part in the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. with Millie’s grandson, Michael Mulcahy, in May 2010. Hubert along with a dozen other veterans were honored with a flight to and a tour of Washington, D.C.

Hubert is preceded in death by his father, William H. Brown, his mother, Hazel Verra Brown Miller, his brother William H. Brown, his sisters, Mary B. Farley and Aletha Jean Brennan, his daughters, Sandra Brown DeRoose and Mary Alice Brown Fasano. He is survived by his son, Thomas Hubert Brown and wife Vivian of St. Louis, Missouri, as well as five grandchildren, Richard John Thomas Isaac, Michael J. DeRoose, Toni Marie Fasano, Theodore J. Fasano and James G. Fasano. Hubert also has 13 great grandchildren.

Services will be held at Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave, Las Vegas, Nevada 89129 and Hubert Norton Brown will be laid to rest at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada.