Terry Max Brown

After a ten year struggle with COPD and heart disease, during which he successfully battled and beat bladder cancer, Terry went home to the Lord he loved and so many of his precious family and friends, where he was no doubt greeted with a “Well done, good and faithful servant.” He went to sleep next to his beloved wife of nearly sixty years, with his dog by his side, his daughter and grandson present, and his horses and many creatures outside his window. He did not give up until the Broncos season ended.

Terry was born in Liberal, Kansas on March 23, 1947. He was raised by parents Max Eugene Brown and M. Clarice (Fankhouser) Brown on a farm outside Kismet with his sister LaTreca. In junior high, he met Elaine Wright, and they were inseparable. They went to high school together in Kismet, riding horses on the Cimarron with Elaine’s cousin Alana Arnett Drew and Terry’s friend Von Miller. Terry was a fantastic football player and athlete, and turned down several athletic scholarships to farm with his dad, attend trade school to learn how to repair equipment and work at a feedlot moving cattle. On June 10, 1967, he married Elaine and they moved a house out to her family property in Hayne.

In 1968, Terry’s draft card was called. He answered it and was deployed to Southern Germany with the 3rd Armored Division during the 1968 uprising in Czechoslovakia. Elaine was able to join him in Germany, and they had many adventures and visits from their parents. When they returned to the US, he went to work as an electrician’s apprentice at Beech Aircraft with Elaine’s Dad, Gene Wright, and her grandfather. In the 1970’s, Terry and Elaine came to Northern Colorado where he worked as an electrician and sometimes manager at StorageTek in Louisville. They built a small horse property near Lafayette and then moved to a slightly larger one outside Berthoud, breeding, raising and training Quarter Horses and practicing Natural Horsemanship. In 1979 daughter Hedy (Heather) joined them, along with grandson Samuel Kruman in 2004. He taught them about horses, along with electricity, farming, how to love people and creatures and the land, and service to his community.

Terry was always busy devoting his life to service - to his beloved wife and family, his many dear friends, his church families, his neighborhood, and his country. In his later years he got so much enjoyment out of maintaining facilities at Adam’s County, and he retired from his coroner and jail stories in 2016 to support his wife’s barrel racing habit full-time. As Terry hung up his spurs, he learned to serve everyone in a different way. He spent his last years cheering everyone he loved on from afar, and teaching them when they could make it to the house. He always had a kind word and a mischievous joke. Terry loved supporting the FFA Chapter his daughter advises at Thompson Valley High School. Seeing his grandson Sam’s service as a security guard at Thompson School district, his college work, and his commendation during the Alexander Mountain fire made him so proud. On his last day with us, he was still able to enjoy his dogs and horses and eat a Haystacker Greg Eyser brought him from Grandpa’s Cafe, surrounded by the trees he planted and the gardens he built. Terry preached grace and love and forgiveness and was still cracking jokes with his last words. He was so glad to be attended in his last moments by his beloved wife Elaine and his dear friend Alex White, while his animals were tended by his family outside.

Terry lived a great long life, and he was greeted on his passing by his Lord Jesus, his and his wife’s parents and families, his dear sister in law Anna Fay Harrison, his brothers in law Kent Harris and Jack Harrison, and nephews Patrick, Michael, and Timothy Harrison. He was also greeted by many dear friends, especially Ken Kegerreis and Gene Ellis.

He is survived by his beloved wife, daughter and grandson, and his sister LaTreca Harris. He is remembered by his wonderful nephews, nieces, cousins, and dearly loved friends. There will be a celebration of life on March 22 at home and a Flag Ceremony and Internment at Ft. Logan on Terry’s 79th birthday, March 23. His nephew-in-law, Eugene Miles, has been invited to give the message.

Memorials in his honor will be accepted by Love Angels Children’s Foundation, the good work of his great friend Pete Sevy (loveangelschildrensfoundation.com), and by Berthoud/Thompson FFA Alumni and Supporters (berthoud-tvffa.square.site) in care of his friends Jackie Wheeler Carlson and Davon Cook.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howemortuary.com with his loving family.