Dr. Clifford Avery Brown

Clifford was born on July 16, 1930 in Cabool, Missouri to Thurman Clifford and Clarina (Dentino) Brown.

He married Audrey C Pederson in Eau Claire Wisconsin in 1954. Together and surviving are his five children, Gregory C Brown, Santa Clara, CA, Karen L (Gary) Brown-Cleghorn, Port St Lucie FL, Kristen L Brown, Waialua HI, Steven D (Mary Ann) Brown and David C (Karen) Brown. He later married Deborah Hess-Brown, she survives along with Deborah’s two daughters Jessica (Christopher Johnson) Robson Apache Junction AZ, Delaney (Mitchel) Leman, Debary FL and Delaney’s two children Logan and Skylar. They were married on October 31, 1996 at the Queen’s Church on the North Shore of Oahu.

Clifford is also survived by his sister, Carolyn Brown, Chicago, IL and two brothers, Fred Brown and Bruce (Lisa Mancuso) Brown both of Peoria IL.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marilyn Small; and brothers, Ronald Brown and Peter D Brown.

Clifford graduated from Manuel High School, in Peoria IL. He went to Bradley University in Peoria and the University of IL. He graduated from the University of IL, College of Dentistry with a BS; DDS in 1954. Later he attended State University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City, IA as an Intern for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and completed his residency in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery from Indianapolis General Hospital, Indianapolis, IN in 1959.

His military experience included US Marine Corp Reserve where had he not been accepted to Dental School he would have been deployed to Korea. Following graduation from Dental School, he was on active duty in the US Navy as a Naval Dental Officer until 1956. In 1959, he opened a private practice for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Peoria IL and was an active staff member at the three Peoria Hospitals. He retired from private practice in 1995.

In 1997 he started to work in a Dental Sealant Program for children in the Public School Systems. In 2000, he became the Director of the Sealant Program for several counties in Central and Northern Illinois. At the same time he volunteered at the Peoria County Health Department. In 2005 and 2006 he volunteered to go on a mission to Haiti with The Friends of the Children of Haiti. The second time he took his own assistant so he could extract more teeth and see more patients.

He was a Past President of the Peoria District Dental Society, a member of the IL State Dental Society, the American Dental Association. He was past president of the Illinois Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. In 2007, he received from Illinois State Dental Society the society’s most prestigious honor, the Distinguished Member Award for his volunteerism and expertise in serving patients of all ages both in the Peoria Areas and through his mission work in Haiti.

He was a Charter member of the IL Valley Striders and was elected as Treasurer during a ‘lunch run’ and held that office until 2010. After he retired from private practice, he wanted to see the United States and thru the years, he purchased several BMW motorcycle(s). He took many motorcycle safety courses and then traveled through all 48 states including trips to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario. He and his riding buddy, Farrell Lytle, who passed away in August of 2021, logged hundreds of thousands of miles on their motorcycles.

He also enjoyed Photography and Astronomy in his early years with his children. He loved his family and made many friends throughout his lifetime. He also felt that he was truly blessed during his lifetime at the events that occurred to reach his goals. (and yes, he could be a stinker, too.)

He attended a Cursillo in February of 1986 and volunteered in various roles for many years. He was a member of United Presbyterian Church.

Per his wishes, he did not wish to have a Memorial Service or Celebration of life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to his church, the Peoria District Dental Society, the friends of the children of Haiti or to the donor’s choice.

The family would like to thank his caregivers for their care he received from Stay at Home With Care LLC during the last few years. Also, they would like to thank Dr Luke Luetkemeyer and his staff at Midwest Orthopaedic Center for their care and concern.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family through Woolsey-Wilton.com as Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.