Duane Brown

Dewey Brown was born to Ralph and Arloine Brown on December 16, 1944 in Palm Springs, CA, where his father was stationed during World War II. As the war drew to a close in 1945, Dewey, along with his mother and older sister, moved to Davenport, WA while his father completed his military service. Following the war, the family moved to Spokane, WA and then to Lind, WA, where his father served as a coach and a grade school principal. They lived there for 12 years, where Dewey attended school through the 7th grade. In 1958, the family returned to Davenport where his father served as a school administrator. Dewey attended Davenport public schools from 8th grade through his graduation in 1963. While in school, he was involved in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, gun club, church groups, and participated on the high school track and football teams.

Dewey attended Eastern Washington State College (University) from 1963-1968, where he majored in math and science and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. He especially loved geology, and participated in geological digs for rocks and fossils in the western United States. To help pay for school, he served as a dorm manager at Eastern, worked at the lumber mill in Creston, WA, did farm work near Davenport, and held various other jobs.

Dewey’s first teaching job was at the Jr. High School in Coulee Dam, WA in 1968-1969; however, he especially enjoyed working with younger children. From 1969-2005, he did exactly that, serving as a 6th grade teacher at Bridgeport Elementary School in Bridgeport, WA, where he occasionally taught 7th and 8th grade science and math.

“Mr. Brown’s” classroom was a floor to ceiling, wall-to-window science laboratory where the students explored and discovered through “hands-on science” experiments at the end of each day (including building motors and rockets, among many other things). His classroom extended well beyond the confines of the school building and grounds. Early in his career, he began planning annual multi-night field trips for his 6th grade classes, where they visited and toured Seattle, Spokane, and various places in between. In 1974, he asked the Spokane World’s Fair and Exposition organizers if he could bring his class there as a group. They loved the idea and started similar programs with other school groups as well. Suffice it to say, Dewey loved kids and he loved to teach!

To continue his own education, Dewey attended summer school at both Eastern and Western Washington Universities. He took numerous classes and workshops, including earning an “Operation Physics” certification. Additionally, in the summers, he worked in various capacities including serving as a draftsman at Chief Joseph Dam, working in the cherry orchards, and teaching summer school.

Dewey also coached and refereed sports, worked as a volunteer firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician, and served as the Secretary of the Bridgeport Eagles organization.

Throughout his career, Dewey received numerous teaching awards and recognitions. For his contributions to education and community service, Dewey was selected by the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce to be the Grand Marshal of the “Bridgeport Daze” parade in 1999.

Dewey’s first marriage was to Bette Rockwell and he helped raise her three daughters. In 1983, he married Jenifer Riddle and he helped raise two of her four sons. Dewey and Jenifer were married for nearly 25 years, during which time they enjoyed camping, traveling in their motorhome, visiting Reno and Las Vegas, NV, and the Pacific coast.

After 37 years of teaching, Dewey retired in 2005 for medical reasons. In 2009, he had a kidney transplant followed by open-heart surgery and multiple associated health complications. With the help of many health professionals, family, and friends, Dewey worked hard to rehabilitate himself. In 2010, he was able to move into his family home in Davenport, WA, where he resided with his mother until his unexpected death on September 23, 2015.

Dewey was fun, generous, gentle, independent, and had a droll sense of humor. He was always concerned for the wellbeing and welfare of others. Children and youth were especially drawn to him, as were cats and dogs and he always had a pet or two to care for. Dewey enjoyed watching sports, especially professional football and Gonzaga basketball. He loved Fantasy Football, playing games of all kinds, collecting interesting things, and eating a great grilled steak! In recent years, Dewey enjoyed reconnecting with his high school graduation class, who celebrated their 50th reunion in 2013.

Dewey was preceded in death by his brother, Jerry (1975), father, Ralph (2001), and wife, Jenifer (2008). He is survived by his mother, Arloine (“Barlee”) of Davenport, sister Merrily Deardorff of Spokane, sister Marita (and Brad) Cardinal of Oregon, many cousins, and other relations.

A memorial service will be held at the Davenport Methodist Church (Sixth and Sinclair) at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 10, 2015. Memorials may be sent to the Lincoln County Hospital Foundation, 10 Nichols Street, Davenport, WA 99122 or the United Davenport-Edwall Methodist Church, Sixth and Sinclair, Davenport, WA 99122. Please sign the online guestbook at www.stratefuneralhome.com. Strate Funeral Home, Davenport, WA is caring for the Brown family.