Richard Conrad Brown

“DOC”

OCTOBER 26TH, 1926 – MARCH 5TH, 2016

Theadore Conrad Brown “Doc”, was born October 20th, 1926 in Bremerton Washington to Helen Storvik of North Dakota and Theadore Roosevelt Brown of Kansas. Doc spent most of his childhood growing up in Ballard Washington with his mother and Grandmother. Theadore was his birth name, at a very young age Doc changed his name to “Richard”, the name came from a barber that Doc became good friends with, he trusted the barber enough to name himself after this man. The name “Doc” was given to him later on in life because he worked in doctor’s surgical scrubs every day, thus everyone called him “Doc” because of his odd clothing choice.

In 1942 at the early age of 14 Doc attempted to join the US Navy, the navy realized Doc had lied about his age and declined entry. Several months later Doc again tried to enlist in the Merchant Marines and was finally successful with the aid of his Grandmother’s approval. This enlistment would allow Doc to travel all over the world by sea visiting many different Ports of Call. This gave Doc a passion for travel which he did later in life attempting to touch as many parts of the world as he could.

After the war Doc returned to Seattle, he married Louella in 1946 and they together had three children, Gregg, Gary, and Joanne. Doc had many jobs after the war, he landed a job at the Seattle Times News Paper and became a type setter, he also worked for the Bremerton Sun as he honed his skills and knowledge to eventually open his own business in Publishing as a partner in the Publishing Mailing Service. Doc later purchased the mailing service from his partner and was successful in many different opportunities.

Doc was divorced in 1983 after 35 years of marriage. Doc met Leslie, a companion who he would remain partners both in business and devotion, they would spend 25 years together building business and investments until Leslie’s unfortunate illness and passing.

Doc had several passions in life, once described as “segments of time” and each segment he pursued with a zeal and enthusiasm. Doc loved to gamble at the casino tables, he loved the attention he received at the casino’s as he described himself as a “Whale”. (That was someone who visited the tables frequently and gave back a lot of money to the casinos!)

The ultimate passion was snowmobiling, when the leaves turned in the Fall Doc was already waiting patiently sitting is his “Cat House”, appropriately named for his modified motorhome which hauled his Arctic Cat snowmobiles, dressed in snow gear waiting for the snow to start falling.

During the winter Doc would be snowmobiling all over the western states, over the many years of snowmobiling he would endear himself to dozens of people with the same passion. So many friendships grew from the trips across the many states traveled with a passion to find the snow. In fact, today you can walk into a gathering of snowmobilers and they would remember the man named “Doc” with his famous fox tail hat, the biggest smile that lit up a room immediately with roars of “Hey Doc”, and a greeting response that Doc was famous for, “what’s up Dad”.

Doc always had a joke or a song, some good some bad but always made you laugh even if it was the 20th time you heard it. Doc always had a positive attitude towards life and what life had to offer, good or bad results he accepted them and moved forward, not with temper or complaint but a confident path.

Generous and forgiving was Doc, almost to a fault if you could call that a fault but Doc was also a very trusting soul.

Doc’s beliefs were simple, he had many sayings but he believed in all things positive, “positive thinking never negative thinking or worry”, “worries today are tomorrows problems” he would say. Doc wrote down many quotes on scratch paper or used envelopes, not sure all of them he made up or copied from others but they were about him as a person and his belief. Doc believed in people, he believed that everyone should have the opportunity to be happy in life, but he grounded himself with no wants to change or blame the past.

Doc was injured in a snowmobile accident in 1994, spinal damage resulted in his left arm being paralyzed enabling his ability to raise his arm on his own, that did not stop Doc from doing what he loved. Doc continued his snowmobiling and love for life, never complained or slowed, in fact he increased his snowmobile trips yearly with even more enthusiasm. In the winter of 2006 Doc was snowmobiling with many friends in Wyoming, Doc didn’t feel good and returned home to find he had congestive heart failure and complete renal failure.

After 6 months of difficult recovery and adjustments to Dialysis treatments 3 times a week, 5 hours a day for each visit, Doc continued his zest for life. Doc continued the treatments and weekly trips to dialysis without complaint or negative thoughts, this he continued until his passing over 10 years later.

Doc beat the odds with several medical issues just as he did so often at the gambling tables, he never gave up on life and never complained, the only thing he didn’t like was doctors or pills, said he was allergic to both. He also told doctors about his two allergies and often told the best joke at the same time. Doctors would ask him about his name, “Doc”, he would respond;

“I’m an unemployed Gynecologist, just can’t find any openings”

Doc leaves behind many family; children, Grandchildren, Great grandchildren, and so, so many friends. We will miss his smile, his laugh, and yes his jokes but most of all we will miss the positive impact he had on all of us he left behind. I know we all wish him well on his next journey, the old friends and new friends he finds on this journey are blessed to have him in their company.

Doc would not want anyone to mourn his passing, in fact the “God Father Party” for celebrating his life was his idea, Doc loved “Big Band” music and the “Party” was planned for the spring, unfortunately Doc could not attend the spring “Party” as he headed out a little early.

Doc would want all who attend, absolutely insist that all have an “attitude adjustment” and have a good time at the “Party” in his remembrance.

God's speed Doc.

Everett Golf & Country Club

March 13th, 2016

12PM -3PM