Obituary - John Wesley Brown, 72

John Wesley Brown was born to John E. and Valentine Brown in Chivington April 24, 1930. He departed this life January 13, 2003, at Weisbrod Memorial Hospital in Eads.

John, or Wesley, as his friends and family knew him, was born on the homestead south of Chivington, but at the age of 4 his family moved six miles north of Chivington. Wesley grew up riding horses, farming and ranching and graduated from Chivington High School. When called to serve, he joined the U.S. Army and was awarded the Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, Medical Badge, United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal for his service during the Korean War.

While in Korea, Wesley started corresponding with the sister of another soldier he met while sharing a foxhole. When he was released from service, Wesley met and courted Harriette Owens, the recipient of his letters, and they were united in marriage at the Presbyterian Church on his birthday, April 24, 1954, in Valentine, Nebraska. The couple returned to Colorado and took over operations of the family farm north of Chivington where they were very popular with many nieces and nephews and neighboring children.

Wes and Harriette were blessed with two children, John Allen and Diane Kay. They resided on the farm for 23 years, raising children, horses, cows, pigs and crops until they moved to Eads due to Wesley’s poor health. Wesley particularly enjoyed racing horses, and when he was not working on his farm, selling MoorMan’s feed, or custom hauling hay bales.

After moving to Eads, Wesley took over as rural mail carrier for the Eads community. He carried mail for many years, but was more popularly known as the "Bubble Gum Man" to many of his mail recipients. Wesley enjoyed sharing a piece of bubblegum with all little kids, and some not so little. He carried on this tradition of having bubblegum for all takers even after he retired.

As his health continued to fail, Wesley entered the Weisbrod Nursing Home, where he resided the final two years of his life. Wesley passed away after continued battles with illness.

His wife of 48 years, Harriette, his son John (Anita), and daughter Diane survive Wesley, along with three grandchildren, Joshua Paul (fiancé Stacy), Jeremy Allen, and Rachel Chantel who were the delight of his later years. His grandchildren, children, nieces, nephews, and many other children all have fond and funny memories of Wesley.

Other survivors include brothers Tom (Larraine) and Van (Mary Ann), brothers in law Johnny Mays, Bill (Dorothy) Owens, Richard (Verlee) Owens, Bob Owens, Tom (Doris) Owens, Max (Donna) Owens, sister-in-law Dorothy Hart, aunt May Root, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents John E. and Vallie Brown, sisters Floy (Herman) Mays and Sally Mays. He will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Funeral services for John Wesley Brown were held January 17, 2003, at the First Christian Church in Eads with Rev. Larry Kettle and Bro. Alvin Clamp officiating. Charlotte Woelk and Betty Crow provided the instrumental music, and Francis Bowen sang "The Old Rugged Cross," "Amazing Grace" and "Precious Memories." Serving as casket bearers were Johnny Dean Mays, Warren Mays, Dwayne Mays, Boyce Kelly, Van Brown Jr., Carl Blodgett, Max Owens Jr. and Brad Owens.

Following the church service, the large gathering of friends and family processed to the Eads cemetery for the final committal services. After the graveside services, the family returned to the Kiowa County Fairgrounds for a time of fellowship and a meal prepared by the ladies of the Eads Assembly of God Church.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Brown Funeral Home.