Stanley Guy Brown

Stan Brown, 81, Korean War veteran, of Mesa, AZ, died peacefully Sunday, July 25th, with his family by his side. Stan was born May 8th, 1929, in Kalamazoo, MI, and moved to Tempe, AZ in 1961. Born during the depression, Stan developed an exceptional work ethic, beginning at age eight, working to help his family survive. Successful at many endeavors, his main focus became food service. Stan was the Director of Food Services for ASU, Saga Food Service, and District Manager for Straw Hat Pizza Palace, overseeing 32 stores. It was during this time that he was invited by the U.S. Navy to work with Food Service Operations around the World. His giving nature led him to numerous service organizations, including President of Kiwanis Club, AZ Food Service Executives Assn., AZ Restaurant Assn., Tempe Chamber of Commerce, and was proud to have been a founding member of the Sun Devil Club and the Tempe Diablos. Never retiring, he began working with the ASURA- the ASU Retirees Assn., as well as several other service-oriented committees. Despite all of these titles and endeavors, his family denotes his greatest success as loving father and husband. Marrying his childhood sweetheart, Carolyn Bertch, they shared 52 years of a beautiful marriage, their love only increasing with time. Our mom was a strong, brilliant woman. Though he was equally strong, and his sense of humor kept us constantly laughing and entertained, he and mom both encouraged each other’s strengths to flourish, providing their children role models, surpassed by none. They taught their own kids, as well as a plethora of childhood friends who also called them “mom” and “dad” that they could do and be anything they chose in life. All of their children agree that it couldn’t have been possible to have had better parents, and shall forever be grateful that God saw fit to bring us all together as a family. One of our fondest activities was singing together as a family. Thank you, dad, for the laughter, the love, the music, and the leadership by example. You are already greatly missed, but the Heavenly reunion with mom must have been beautiful. Stan is survived by his daughters, Nancy Woodworth and husband Bart, Mary Jane Malone and husband Eddie, Susan Dodson and husband Butch; sons Mitch and Pat; sister, Barbara Hinckley; nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren. His memorial service will be held at Green Acres Mortuary, 401 N Hayden Rd in Scottsdale on Saturday, July 31st. Closed-casket visitation will be at 11, with the service starting at 12:00. For those wishing to make donations in Stan’s memory, please send to ASURA, c/o AZ State University, PO Box 873308, Tempe, AZ 85287-3308. Please add “Carolyn Brown Memorial Fund” to your memo. Thank you.