Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Edmund Brown Jr.

Edmund G. Brown, Jr., a longtime resident of Monroe, died Saturday, May 11, 2008.

A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Monroe, Louisiana at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14th, with the Rev. Allison Moody officiating. A reception will follow at the church immediately after the service.

Mr. Brown was born on March 28, 1921 in New Orleans, Louisiana. After graduating from Alcee Fortier High School in New Orleans and the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New Mexico, he was commissioned in the U.S. Army and served with the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II. He was in the Battle of the Bulge, witnessed the close of the war at Ludwiglust on the Elbe River, and served during Occupational Germany. After the war, he continued his studies at Tulane University before beginning his newspaper career at the Times Picayune in New Orleans. While at Tulane, he met and married Bitza McCay in 1948, to whom he was devoted until his last day.

In 1952, Mr. Brown accepted a position with The Newstar World, a family-owned newspaper located in Monroe, Louisiana. He enjoyed his work, fishing, golf, snow skiing, and geneology. He was also an avid gardener. During his life, he was affiliated with the First Presbyterian Church of Monroe, Bayou Desiard Country Club, the Monroe Little Theater, and the Boston and Louisiana Clubs of New Orleans. Most importantly, he was a wonderful father to six children and developed numerous lifelong friends. During his retirement, he spent countless hours with his children and grandchildren at his farm outside Monroe, traveled extensively with his wife, and continued his relationships with his friends. Affectionately known by his family as Pop, by his wife as Chere, and by his childrens friends as EG, he was the embodiment of a devoted father, grandfather, and husband.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Esther Ewing Brown of New Orleans, La. and Edmund Graves Brown Sr. of Newburyport, Maine; two brothers, Robert Ewing Brown and Toulmin Hunter Brown, both of Pass Christian, Miss.; and by two sons, Leander Moore Brown and Percy McCay (Mac) Brown.

He is survived by his wife, Bethia (Bitza) McCay Brown of Monroe, La.; four children, Edmund Graves Brown III of Houston, Texas, James Ewing Brown of Lafayette, La., Bethia Brown Bundrick of Shreveport, La. and Donelson Taylor Brown of Monroe, La.; ten grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Edmund G. Brown IV, Andrew Hunter Brown, Claude Youngblood Bundrick, Claude Youngblood Bundrick, Jr., John Leander Bundrick, James Andrew Wedeberg, and Toulmin Hunter Ewing.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Jack Davis, Jack Easterling, Hank Wells, Robert Oliver Sr., Dr. Dan Sartor, Dr. James Truly, and Dr. James Fouts.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church of Monroe, Louisiana, Young Life of Shreveport, La., Youth With a Mission, P.O. Box 790237, Paia, Hawaii 96779, or similar missionary outreaches.

The online registry/condolences is at www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com