Nathaniel Leroy Brown

Nathaniel L. Brown

Nathaniel Brown was born to Lilia Mae Emery and Thomas Jefferson Brown, February 8, 1931 in Holdenville, Oklahoma. He spent his early hears in rural Oklahoma being raised in a large extended family household which included his grandparents and his 11 aunts and uncles. In 1950 he relocated with his immediate family to Los Angeles, California. It was there that he completed high school. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in the summer of 1951. Upon graduation he entered the U.S. Air Force in 1951 during the Korean Conflict. He spent 4 years in active service and was stationed in Japan. He continued his military service in the Air Force Reserves where he retired with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant with over 20 years served. His decorations included the National Defense Service Medal, United Nations service Medal, Korean Service Medal, and Good Conduct medal.

Nathaniel had a great thirst for knowledge. He attended college and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Pepperdine College in Los Angeles and a Masters of Arts in Psychology from Los Angeles State College.

Nathaniel also had a lengthy career in government service focused on Personnel Management. During his 32 years of federal employment he was appointed to be Regional Representative of the United States Civil Service Commission Equal Employment Opportunity Program. He was over the Western Region of the United States including the Pacific Islands. He later was promoted to a senior leadership position in the Office of Personnel Management for the Federal Government from which he later retired.

Retirement for Nathanial was very active. He was elected to the position of National Security for NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees). The position provided him the opportunity to travel across the country to connect with and advocate for members. He served for two, four year terms. He was also an avid genealogist and helped to spearhead several family reunion functions as a result of his collaboration with family members and development of a family tree reaching back over 8 generations.

Nathaniel's spiritual life became enlightened when he became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1989. He was ordained to work in the office of the Elder/teacher. He spoke many times of the joy of counseling families and outreach to teens.

Most of all he was the Patriarch of our family; a kind, caring and loving individual who always had time for "your story." We will miss him and his trade mark sweet potato pies and his subtle humor! He loved adventure especially traveling and studying other cultures.

He is survived by a large loving extended family including his two sisters Lora Matthews and Doreatha Beckham, Brothers Thomas Jefferson Brown Jr., Clarence Brown, Shelton Brown, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.