Bryan Ray Brown

A much-loved son, brother, uncle, and friend, 56, of Tucson, Arizona, passed away at his home on February 14, 2022. Bryan was born in Frankfurt, Germany on September 8, 1965, and spent the first eight years of his life in Germany with his mother, Janet (Osmer) Elaban and his younger sister, Coleen Schaefer.

In his youth, Bryan found his cadre of forever friends, whom he lovingly called, “the Lads”. Each friend had their own special nickname bestowed to them by Bryan. Some more colorful than others, but all straight from his caring heart. It is a rare person who can hold dozens of friends over four decades and Bryan was that rare gem of a person.

Bryan enlisted in the U.S. Army at 18 directly after high school for the G.I. Bill so that he could eventually attend college. He ultimately found his way back to his birthplace when he was stationed in Wildflecken, Germany on the then, East German border. He would regale his friends with his Army stories and have people holding their sides with laughter with happy tears streaming down their faces as they listened to his escapades.

After his military service, Bryan enrolled in the University of Arizona and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history and German. His goal was to return to Germany and work in some foreign service capacity, but when the Berlin wall fell, he shifted his plans to remain close to home with his mother and sister.

Bryan worked for Vantage Credit Union for almost 20 years as a loan officer. Not surprisingly, his co-workers were also some of his dearest friends. He was the guy who could have chosen any workspace in the new office, but chose the one closest to the entrance so he would be able to say hello and goodbye to everyone. He was the thoughtful person who gave everyone in the office a Payday candy bar on the extra pay checks of the year. When his sister and brother-in-law tried to lure him away to work at a credit union near them in Georgia, he considered it, but ultimately told them, he loved his job and his friends at work.

Bryan loved gaming of all sorts…traditional board games, role-playing games, and online games. His memory was astonishing, and his family eventually refused to play Trivial Pursuit with him because they stood no chance. His gaming skills extended to the craps tables in Las Vegas where, in most years, he and some friends would have weekend jaunts. Luckily enough, he would tell his sister that he either “broke even for the trip or came out ahead”. Bryan loved a good stout from a craft brewery on his travels and the standing happy hour with his friends from work. He was an avid college basketball fan, especially of the University of Arizona Wildcats and each March Madness would have him glued to the screen with his closest friends, most years in Seattle with his best friend.

Bryan devoted much of his time and energy as a caregiver to his mother until she passed away on January 28, 2020. He loved his mother and sister unconditionally and was ecstatic to become a brother-in-law, an uncle, and a family member to his extended German family. He ended every call with a boisterous “I love you”.

Although his life would seem too short to many, those who were touched by his genuine sweetness and fun-loving nature, all count themselves lucky to have known him. We love you, Bryan. Rest in Peace.