Harold Alvin Brown

Harold (Hal) A. Brown passed away on Friday, January 16, 2015 after a short illness. He was born in Portsmouth, Ohio on May 30, 1929 to Emory and Ethel Brown. He attended primary schools in Akron, Ohio and, after his family moved to California, graduated from Vallejo High School. In 1946, Hal enlisted in the Army Air Corp. He was stationed in Guam and Okinawa as a staff sergeant. While at boot camp, his family relocated from Vallejo to Lemoore. That’s where he met the love of his life, Mildred “Millie” Lancaster. When he was stationed overseas, not a day went by when he didn't write her. Upon his honorable discharge, Hal and Millie were married on June 10, 1950.

Hal enrolled in and graduated from San Francisco State in 1953. He and Millie moved to Hanford, where Hal was employed by Wainwright and Wilshire, a Certified Public Accounting firm. In 1956, he opened his first CPA office. He operated his accounting firm for more than 50 years and retired from Brown, Neuman & Semas in 2007.

Hal was involved in many civic activities, including the Hanford Rotary Club and First Christian Church. He was a member of Kings Country Club, where he was an avid golf player. Hal’s career in local politics began when he was elected to the Hanford City Council in 1966. He served as a city councilman for several years and was mayor for two terms, once in 1970 and again in 1972. Many pivotal decisions were made during his tenure on the city council, including the building of the new town library, police station and Kings County Government Center. Hal believed his crowning achievement for the community of Hanford was the preservation, creation and naming of Hidden Valley Park. As developers worked to pave over the land for housing, he fought to keep the area pristine and to develop a park for community use. Hal always said the name of the park came from neighborhood kids who called the area Hidden Valley.

Hal is preceded in death by Millie, his wife of 58 years; his parents; and his sister, Ruth Shuman and granddaughter, Kari Jorgensen. He is survived by his children; Jeff Brown (Carolyn), Dan Brown (Monica), Betsy Garcia (Ron) and Katy Murray (Bob), grandchildren; Ken Jorgensen (Aryn), Chris Garcia, Brett Garcia, Crista Strickland (Travis), Laura Brown, Stephen Brown and Maggie Murray, sisters-in-law; Mary Kay Luis and Diana Lancaster, six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held Friday, February 6, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. at the Elks Lodge; 506 N. Douty Street, Hanford, CA 93230.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Salvation Army; P.O. Box 987, Hanford, CA 93232.

Family and Friends are invited to view Hal’s legacy at www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com and send condolences to the family.

Services are under the direction of People’s Funeral Chapel.

PEOPLE’S FUNERAL CHAPEL

501 N. Douty Street * Hanford, CA 93230

559-584-5591 * www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com