1940 Napa, Napa, California
Wild Horse Valley Road
Russell Brown 45 CA Helper in Navy Yard
Hazel Brown 40 RI Wife
Marjorie R. Brown 12 NJ Daughter
Kenneth O. Brown 8 CA Son
1950 Napa, Napa, CA
Hazel Brown 50 RI Widowed
Kenneth O. Brown 18 CA Son, Stock Man, Drug Store
Napa Journal, Napa, California
Sunday, 18 Feb 1951, Page 6
Orville Brown Enlists In Navy
"A former student of Napa College, Kenneth Orville Brown, 19, has recently been accepted for enlistment in the regular Navy, according to the local Navy recruiter Chief Quartermaster Vern A. Pierce.
Enlisting for four years, young Brown, the son of Mrs. Hazel Brown of 2927 Devita Drive, is now stationed at the Naval Training Center, San Diego, California for basic recruit indoctrination."
Newport Daily News 6 Jul 1953
"Kenneth O. Brown USN, son of Mrs. Hazel Bailey Brown and the late Russell Brown of California, is here attending the Naval School of Justice. His grandmother, Mrs. Phebe A. Bailey of New York is spending the summer with Mrs. Charles Mitner of 3 Bush Street."
As a child my family would go to Grand Island on the Sacramento Delta for our Brown Family Reunion. One of my fondest memories of those many reunions was getting to listen to my cousin Ken tell stories, I only wish I had paid more attention. As time went by and we all grew older somehow I lost track of Ken until I became the self appointed family historian. He was one of the first people I earnestly looked for and found thanks to a Sacramento area school alumni book. From that first conversation it was as if time had not passed but stood still. In the years after we shared many notes and stories, pictures etc. and even solved a few family mysteries. The day Ken died a little piece of me died with him.
Ken was born in San Pedro, CA, a third generation Californian; his father played in and directed Navy bands for 30 years, his mother was a classically trained soprano, so it was in his genes to be musically inclined and he was indeed. Ken remained in Napa until he joined the U.S. Navy, serving five years during the Korean War, two of those years he was assigned to NATO in Naples, Italy. While in Italy he trained his tenor voice with a vocal coach, attended performances by operatic legends, and it was there he decided to dedicate his life to the study and teaching of choral music. After his time in the Navy was up he enrolled at California State University, Sacramento, earning a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in music, of course. Soon after he began what would be a 30 year teaching career with the Washington Unified School District in West Sacramento and also taught music at James Marshall High School. He dedicated 50 years of his life to being a choir director, something he would do at many of the churches in and around the Sacramento area and even directed the Roman Catholic Chapel Choir at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento.
Anyone who ever had the pleasure of knowing Ken Brown will never forget him, he and his voice were one of a kind. While teaching at James Marshall Ken would meet his bride of 43 years, Miss Jean Boyd, who along with their daughters and grandchildren, extended family and friends are left to mourn his loss.
In true Ken Brown style he orchestrated his own funeral, or should I say celebration of life, which was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. Needless to say the music was incredible, the stories uplifting and personal, it truly was his last gift to all of us who knew and loved him and what a gift it was. There were so many of his students there, a true tribute to the man, the teacher and his music, he would have loved it. Two recorded songs were played on this day, one was Ken and Jean signing Love Divine, All Loves Excelling and the other was Ken's beloved wife's recording of How Great Thou Art, there was not a dry eye in Carmichael Presbyterian Church that day.
While attending one of his last birthday's at his home we all had the pleasure of Ken conducting everyone signing Happy Birthday to him, quite possibly the best rendition of the hard to sign song I have ever heard.
Wild Horse Valley Road
Russell Brown 45 CA Helper in Navy Yard
Hazel Brown 40 RI Wife
Marjorie R. Brown 12 NJ Daughter
Kenneth O. Brown 8 CA Son
1950 Napa, Napa, CA
Hazel Brown 50 RI Widowed
Kenneth O. Brown 18 CA Son, Stock Man, Drug Store
Napa Journal, Napa, California
Sunday, 18 Feb 1951, Page 6
Orville Brown Enlists In Navy
"A former student of Napa College, Kenneth Orville Brown, 19, has recently been accepted for enlistment in the regular Navy, according to the local Navy recruiter Chief Quartermaster Vern A. Pierce.
Enlisting for four years, young Brown, the son of Mrs. Hazel Brown of 2927 Devita Drive, is now stationed at the Naval Training Center, San Diego, California for basic recruit indoctrination."
Newport Daily News 6 Jul 1953
"Kenneth O. Brown USN, son of Mrs. Hazel Bailey Brown and the late Russell Brown of California, is here attending the Naval School of Justice. His grandmother, Mrs. Phebe A. Bailey of New York is spending the summer with Mrs. Charles Mitner of 3 Bush Street."
As a child my family would go to Grand Island on the Sacramento Delta for our Brown Family Reunion. One of my fondest memories of those many reunions was getting to listen to my cousin Ken tell stories, I only wish I had paid more attention. As time went by and we all grew older somehow I lost track of Ken until I became the self appointed family historian. He was one of the first people I earnestly looked for and found thanks to a Sacramento area school alumni book. From that first conversation it was as if time had not passed but stood still. In the years after we shared many notes and stories, pictures etc. and even solved a few family mysteries. The day Ken died a little piece of me died with him.
Ken was born in San Pedro, CA, a third generation Californian; his father played in and directed Navy bands for 30 years, his mother was a classically trained soprano, so it was in his genes to be musically inclined and he was indeed. Ken remained in Napa until he joined the U.S. Navy, serving five years during the Korean War, two of those years he was assigned to NATO in Naples, Italy. While in Italy he trained his tenor voice with a vocal coach, attended performances by operatic legends, and it was there he decided to dedicate his life to the study and teaching of choral music. After his time in the Navy was up he enrolled at California State University, Sacramento, earning a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in music, of course. Soon after he began what would be a 30 year teaching career with the Washington Unified School District in West Sacramento and also taught music at James Marshall High School. He dedicated 50 years of his life to being a choir director, something he would do at many of the churches in and around the Sacramento area and even directed the Roman Catholic Chapel Choir at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento.
Anyone who ever had the pleasure of knowing Ken Brown will never forget him, he and his voice were one of a kind. While teaching at James Marshall Ken would meet his bride of 43 years, Miss Jean Boyd, who along with their daughters and grandchildren, extended family and friends are left to mourn his loss.
In true Ken Brown style he orchestrated his own funeral, or should I say celebration of life, which was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. Needless to say the music was incredible, the stories uplifting and personal, it truly was his last gift to all of us who knew and loved him and what a gift it was. There were so many of his students there, a true tribute to the man, the teacher and his music, he would have loved it. Two recorded songs were played on this day, one was Ken and Jean signing Love Divine, All Loves Excelling and the other was Ken's beloved wife's recording of How Great Thou Art, there was not a dry eye in Carmichael Presbyterian Church that day.
While attending one of his last birthday's at his home we all had the pleasure of Ken conducting everyone signing Happy Birthday to him, quite possibly the best rendition of the hard to sign song I have ever heard.
1940 Napa, Napa, California
Wild Horse Valley Road
Russell Brown 45 CA Helper in Navy Yard
Hazel Brown 40 RI Wife
Marjorie R. Brown 12 NJ Daughter
Kenneth O. Brown 8 CA Son
1950 Napa, Napa, CA
Hazel Brown 50 RI Widowed
Kenneth O. Brown 18 CA Son, Stock Man, Drug Store
Napa Journal, Napa, California
Sunday, 18 Feb 1951, Page 6
Orville Brown Enlists In Navy
"A former student of Napa College, Kenneth Orville Brown, 19, has recently been accepted for enlistment in the regular Navy, according to the local Navy recruiter Chief Quartermaster Vern A. Pierce.
Enlisting for four years, young Brown, the son of Mrs. Hazel Brown of 2927 Devita Drive, is now stationed at the Naval Training Center, San Diego, California for basic recruit indoctrination."
Newport Daily News 6 Jul 1953
"Kenneth O. Brown USN, son of Mrs. Hazel Bailey Brown and the late Russell Brown of California, is here attending the Naval School of Justice. His grandmother, Mrs. Phebe A. Bailey of New York is spending the summer with Mrs. Charles Mitner of 3 Bush Street."
As a child my family would go to Grand Island on the Sacramento Delta for our Brown Family Reunion. One of my fondest memories of those many reunions was getting to listen to my cousin Ken tell stories, I only wish I had paid more attention. As time went by and we all grew older somehow I lost track of Ken until I became the self appointed family historian. He was one of the first people I earnestly looked for and found thanks to a Sacramento area school alumni book. From that first conversation it was as if time had not passed but stood still. In the years after we shared many notes and stories, pictures etc. and even solved a few family mysteries. The day Ken died a little piece of me died with him.
Ken was born in San Pedro, CA, a third generation Californian; his father played in and directed Navy bands for 30 years, his mother was a classically trained soprano, so it was in his genes to be musically inclined and he was indeed. Ken remained in Napa until he joined the U.S. Navy, serving five years during the Korean War, two of those years he was assigned to NATO in Naples, Italy. While in Italy he trained his tenor voice with a vocal coach, attended performances by operatic legends, and it was there he decided to dedicate his life to the study and teaching of choral music. After his time in the Navy was up he enrolled at California State University, Sacramento, earning a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in music, of course. Soon after he began what would be a 30 year teaching career with the Washington Unified School District in West Sacramento and also taught music at James Marshall High School. He dedicated 50 years of his life to being a choir director, something he would do at many of the churches in and around the Sacramento area and even directed the Roman Catholic Chapel Choir at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento.
Anyone who ever had the pleasure of knowing Ken Brown will never forget him, he and his voice were one of a kind. While teaching at James Marshall Ken would meet his bride of 43 years, Miss Jean Boyd, who along with their daughters and grandchildren, extended family and friends are left to mourn his loss.
In true Ken Brown style he orchestrated his own funeral, or should I say celebration of life, which was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. Needless to say the music was incredible, the stories uplifting and personal, it truly was his last gift to all of us who knew and loved him and what a gift it was. There were so many of his students there, a true tribute to the man, the teacher and his music, he would have loved it. Two recorded songs were played on this day, one was Ken and Jean signing Love Divine, All Loves Excelling and the other was Ken's beloved wife's recording of How Great Thou Art, there was not a dry eye in Carmichael Presbyterian Church that day.
While attending one of his last birthday's at his home we all had the pleasure of Ken conducting everyone signing Happy Birthday to him, quite possibly the best rendition of the hard to sign song I have ever heard.
Wild Horse Valley Road
Russell Brown 45 CA Helper in Navy Yard
Hazel Brown 40 RI Wife
Marjorie R. Brown 12 NJ Daughter
Kenneth O. Brown 8 CA Son
1950 Napa, Napa, CA
Hazel Brown 50 RI Widowed
Kenneth O. Brown 18 CA Son, Stock Man, Drug Store
Napa Journal, Napa, California
Sunday, 18 Feb 1951, Page 6
Orville Brown Enlists In Navy
"A former student of Napa College, Kenneth Orville Brown, 19, has recently been accepted for enlistment in the regular Navy, according to the local Navy recruiter Chief Quartermaster Vern A. Pierce.
Enlisting for four years, young Brown, the son of Mrs. Hazel Brown of 2927 Devita Drive, is now stationed at the Naval Training Center, San Diego, California for basic recruit indoctrination."
Newport Daily News 6 Jul 1953
"Kenneth O. Brown USN, son of Mrs. Hazel Bailey Brown and the late Russell Brown of California, is here attending the Naval School of Justice. His grandmother, Mrs. Phebe A. Bailey of New York is spending the summer with Mrs. Charles Mitner of 3 Bush Street."
As a child my family would go to Grand Island on the Sacramento Delta for our Brown Family Reunion. One of my fondest memories of those many reunions was getting to listen to my cousin Ken tell stories, I only wish I had paid more attention. As time went by and we all grew older somehow I lost track of Ken until I became the self appointed family historian. He was one of the first people I earnestly looked for and found thanks to a Sacramento area school alumni book. From that first conversation it was as if time had not passed but stood still. In the years after we shared many notes and stories, pictures etc. and even solved a few family mysteries. The day Ken died a little piece of me died with him.
Ken was born in San Pedro, CA, a third generation Californian; his father played in and directed Navy bands for 30 years, his mother was a classically trained soprano, so it was in his genes to be musically inclined and he was indeed. Ken remained in Napa until he joined the U.S. Navy, serving five years during the Korean War, two of those years he was assigned to NATO in Naples, Italy. While in Italy he trained his tenor voice with a vocal coach, attended performances by operatic legends, and it was there he decided to dedicate his life to the study and teaching of choral music. After his time in the Navy was up he enrolled at California State University, Sacramento, earning a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in music, of course. Soon after he began what would be a 30 year teaching career with the Washington Unified School District in West Sacramento and also taught music at James Marshall High School. He dedicated 50 years of his life to being a choir director, something he would do at many of the churches in and around the Sacramento area and even directed the Roman Catholic Chapel Choir at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento.
Anyone who ever had the pleasure of knowing Ken Brown will never forget him, he and his voice were one of a kind. While teaching at James Marshall Ken would meet his bride of 43 years, Miss Jean Boyd, who along with their daughters and grandchildren, extended family and friends are left to mourn his loss.
In true Ken Brown style he orchestrated his own funeral, or should I say celebration of life, which was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. Needless to say the music was incredible, the stories uplifting and personal, it truly was his last gift to all of us who knew and loved him and what a gift it was. There were so many of his students there, a true tribute to the man, the teacher and his music, he would have loved it. Two recorded songs were played on this day, one was Ken and Jean signing Love Divine, All Loves Excelling and the other was Ken's beloved wife's recording of How Great Thou Art, there was not a dry eye in Carmichael Presbyterian Church that day.
While attending one of his last birthday's at his home we all had the pleasure of Ken conducting everyone signing Happy Birthday to him, quite possibly the best rendition of the hard to sign song I have ever heard.
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