Leon Jay Brown

Leon Jay Brown, 86, of Clear Lake, Texas, known to his family and friends as “Papa Lee” passed away on July 25th after a brave and very strong but brief fight against pancreatic cancer. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, on July 13th to Benjamin and Beatrice Brown. He is preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Dora Johnson and Betty Crawford. He is survived by his wife, Carol, of 68 years; two daughters, Barbara Clacher and her husband Bob of Clear Lake, TX; Carol Martin and her husband Bob of Farmington, MI; six grandchildren, Laurie Quinn and her husband, Joe; Ken Clacher and his wife, Karen; Dan Martin; Ron Clacher, Dawn Clacher, and Debby Lawyer and her husband, Thomy; six great-grandchildren, Kanet Adair and her husband, Steven; Katie Huddleston, Layne Moore, Nicole Lawyer, Dylan Daugherty, and Blake Daugherty; and one great-great grandchild, Kade Clacher.

At fifteen, Lee attended the Henry Ford Trade School in Detroit where he studied to become a draftsman. At eighteen, he enlisted into the U.S. Air Force as a cadet, trained as a bombardier, made Lieutenant, and flew in B-17’s and B-25’s during WWII. After the war, Lee attended the University of Detroit for two years and earned a drafting degree that provided him with numerous employment opportunities in the drafting field until he became the Manager of Marketing for the Suspension Division at Eaton Corporation in Southfield, Michigan, for twenty-two years.

Lee enjoyed being in the outdoors, especially the woods, and loved to fish. Another favorite pastime was wood working. He became an accomplished craftsmen over the years and enjoyed creating furniture and toys for his great-grandchildren and was also in several craft shows. Lee’s accomplishments were many. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix. He was very talented, smart, and wise and had a special brand of humor. His greatest accomplishment, however, was the love he gave to his wife and family. Papa Lee will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

Memorial Service will be held at Forest Park East Funeral Home 21620 Gulf Freeway Webster, TX 77598 at 12:30 PM on Thursday July 29, 2010. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer society.

Arrangements under the direction of Forest Park East Funeral Home, Webster, TX.