Clyde W Brown

PEKIN ~ Clyde Wayne Brown, 83, of Okeechobee, Florida and Loveland, Colorado, passed away at 7:29 p.m. Sunday, September 13, 2009 at McKee Medical Center in Loveland, Colorado. He was formerly of Pekin.

Born February 9, 1926 in Peoria to Clifford Anderson and Elsie Louise (Lawrence) Brown, he married Bernadine Lorraine Lutz on January 1, 1943 in Palmyra, Missouri. She died January 18, 1985 in Melbourne, Florida. He later married Shirley Moore in Apopka, Florida. She survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Dianna Lou "Sissy" Billadeau of Indian Harbor Beach, Florida; his daughter-in-law, Joyce A. Brown of Pekin; five granddaughters, Deborah (Randall) Downey of Pekin, Renee Hanson of Monterey, California, Kathleen (Michael) Perfetti of Delavan, Denise (Michael) Roy and Stacy (Oliver) Bryant, both of Indialantic, Florida; eleven great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren and one sister, Elaine (Rev. David) Martin of Orlando, Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Clyde Clifford "Sonny" Brown on January 4, 1999 in Pekin; two brothers and one sister. He was a World War II Army veteran, serving as a military policeman.

Brownie was a heavy machine operator with Midwest Operating Engineers, of which he was a 50-year member. He worked for Orr Construction Company in Chicago Heights from 1952 to 1974, last working as a supervisor and also as a company pilot. Prior to working for Orr, he worked construction overseas, helping to build airports, in Guam and Africa.

He was a member of First Baptist Church in Indialantic. Brownie was an avid golfer and fisherman. He also was a 35-year member of Crete Lodge 763, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Crete.

His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 19, 2009 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel. The Rev. Terry C. Edele of First United Methodist Church in Pekin will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, September 18, 2009 at the funeral home, with Masonic rites accorded at 7 p.m. by Empire Lodge 126, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Pekin. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin, with military rites accorded by the United States Army and Tazewell Military Rites Team.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, 4234 North Knoxville Avenue, Peoria, IL 61614, or to a charity of the donor's choice.