Andy's Eulogy - Part Two

One of my favorite memories is from my hockey days. During games, there were bleachers where parents could sit comfortably. My dad rarely used them. Instead, he stood by the glass next to me for the entire game. One time I lost sight of the puck during play. I looked over and saw him pointing. I found the puck immediately, made the save, and we stopped a scoring chance together.
The older I get, the more that memory means to me. Because that's who my dad was. He paid attention. He showed up.
And when the people he loved lost sight of what mattered, he helped point them back in the right direction.
Something else many people didn't see was how much he quietly carried. Even when his health wasn't good, he rarely complained. More often than not, he'd tell people he was doing great. He didn't want the focus on himself.
That's just who he was.
Dad taught both of his children lessons that stayed with us long after we became adults, served in the military, built careers, and created families of our own. The biggest lesson was simple:
Keep going when life gets hard.
We'll miss his humor, his stories, his advice, his willingness to help, and the way he always seemed to know how to fix whatever was broken.
Thank you, Dad, for the example you set, for the sacrifices you made, and for always being there.
We'll keep going. And we'll keep trying to focus."

Andy's Eulogy - Part One

Today we said goodbye to my dad, Richard Brown.
If you knew him, there's a good chance you knew him as the car guy.
For many years he worked at AAMCO Transmissions and built a reputation as someone people could trust. Friends, customers, coworkers, and family all knew that if something wasn't working, Richard was probably the person to call. He genuinely enjoyed solving problems and helping people.
But there was much more to him than that.
Dad was hardworking, witty, and incredibly resourceful. He loved buying tools, even if he only used them one time, and spent countless hours in the garage fixing things himself. If there was a way to repair something instead of replacing it, he was determined to figure it out. Looking back, I think part of that came from his belief that problems are meant to be solved, not avoided.
He was also an athlete. He attended the University of Oklahoma and played baseball as a third baseman. An injury changed the course of that dream, but like so many other challenges in his life, he found a way forward.
For 44 years, he and my mom built a life together and raised our family. He was a provider in every sense of the word. He worked hard so his family could have opportunities and stability.
As a kid, I probably didn't make things easy on him. I loved sports and thought school was boring. Dad constantly encouraged me to focus on my strengths while improving my weaknesses.
In fact, the word I probably heard most from him was: "Focus."
He even had a hand signal for it. Two fingers pointed at his eyes. It became one of his trademarks.

Here is the web version of the funeral mass. 
https://www.youtube.com/live/jbcyNe7thkY?is=TO47epMeE4yQ6RPW

Mom and Dad's birthday in Lake Havasu, AZ.

We will hold the memories close.  Husband, Father-in-law and  Pop-pop… also our friend.  Rest in peace Richard.  We know you are now with your mom and beloved Dakota.  Until we meet again… thanks for raising great sons, one we are fortunate to have as our son-in-love, Mike.

OBITUARY

Richard Donald Brown

June 20, 1956 – November 3, 2026

McAulay & Wallace Mortuary

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