Philip Ray Brown of Sandy, Utah passed away peacefully in the comfort of his own home on August 22, 2010 after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 74 years old. Phil was born June 19, 1936, in Los Angeles, California to Joseph Albert and Elda Whiting Brown. Phil spent his childhood in his beloved St. Johns, AZ, where he worked on the family ranch, and forged life-long relationships with his brothers and sisters and his many relatives and friends. Upon completion of an LDS Mission in Brazil (1956-59), Phil married Antoinette Hatch of Colonia Juarez, Mexico for time and all eternity on December 20, 1960 in the Mesa, Arizona Temple. Together, they had 11 children and their greatest happiness was their 39 grandchildren. Phil graduated from Brigham Young University in 1961 with a B.A. in Animal Husbandry. A lifelong athlete and sports enthusiast, Phil was an avid fan of BYU Athletics. Phil worked hard his entire life, first as a rancher and farmer, later as the B.L.M. Chief Appraiser of Arizona, and finally as a specialist in the L.D.S. Missionary Department. Blessed with an inquisitive mind, Phil loved learning and teaching, and he devoted much of his life to studying the gospel of Jesus Christ. Quick with a joke and always ready to laugh first, Phil was the life of every party. He loved sharing his thousands of stories with friends and relatives, spending time with his children and grandchildren, watching Westerns, playing basketball, and reading. Always active in the LDS church, Phil held many church callings during his life, serving as a Missionary, Gospel Doctrine Instructor, Stake Mission Leader, Bishop, and Mission President. He shared the calling he enjoyed most with his wife Netta, when they presided over the Porto Portugal Mission from 1990 to 1993. The Phil Brown family shares their sense of loss with our extended family and friends, many faithful missionaries, and the wonderful church members of Portugal. Phil is survived by his 11 children: Debbie (Jon) Moody, Draper, UT; Becky (Bernie) Hofmann, Yakima, WA; Joe (Natasha) Brown, Pleasant Grove, UT; Buffy (Stewart) Robbins, Sandy, UT; Jacque (Rob) Likes, Draper, UT; Tim (Heather) Brown, San Clemente, CA; Jeremy (Kimberly) Brown, Orem, UT; Misha (Adam) Edwards, Draper, UT; Nikki (Darren) Harris, Huntington Beach, CA; John (Johanna) Brown, Austin, Texas; Lexi (Casey) Patterson, Huntington Beach, CA. His 39 grandchildren will miss playing games and eating candy with their Grandpa Brown. A viewing will be held on Friday, August 27, from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the Buttercup Chapel located at 1600 East Buttercup Drive (100th South) Sandy, UT. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 10 a.m. at the same location. A viewing will precede the funeral from 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. The family wishes to thank all those who made Phil's final years full of comfort, joy, and happiness. He is again united with his sweetheart, Netta. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the LDS Missionary Fund.

Published 26 August 2010 in The Salt Lake Tribune (UT)