Earl George Brown

Earl George Brown passed away on March 28, 2011 after a long battle with congestive heart failure. He was 90 years old. Earl was born on the family ranch in Little Shasta on July 27, 1920. He was the son of Ira and Myrtle (Dreyer) Brown, grandson of George and Angie (Soule) Brown and great grandson of pioneers Andrew and Ann Lavina (Barnard) Soule. Andrew Soule arrived in Siskiyou County from New Lebanon, Illinois by wagon train in 1854. Earl attended Little Shasta School as a boy and graduated from Yreka High School. He worked hard on the ranch and helped his father sell and maintain heavy equipment along with his ranching chores. He was a natural mechanic. After high school Earl travelled to the Bay Area and drove for Greyhound Bus for a time before the start of World War II. At the start of the war Earl entered the U.S. Army and, after fighting in Africa, landed on the beach in France on D-Day. He survived the entire war as an infantry sergeant and fought through the Battle of the Bulge among other campaigns. He often joked about General George Patton telling him to tuck in his shirt when he once had the opportunity to meet him. After the war Earl returned to the Bay Area and took a job for a short while with Westinghouse. It was here that he met his future wife, Eleanor Pitt. Eleanor recalls that the first time she saw Earl, he was leaning against a water cooler smiling at all the girls, a young man fresh back from the war and glad to be alive. They were married on July 3, 1948. The city life didn't fit well with Earl and he soon returned to Siskiyou County where he took a job with the County Road Department as a heavy equipment operator. Many of the roads in the county were built by Earl in the seat of a bulldozer. He continued working for the county, becoming construction crew foreman and later a mechanic in the shop. With his great knowledge of equipment and road building he ultimately became Siskiyou County Road Superintendent, a job that he held for many years until his retirement in 1983. Throughout life, Earl's greatest passion was flying. He owned several airplanes over the years and was always happiest behind the controls of a plane. He was a proud life member of the National Rifle Association, a past member of the airport commission and a past president of the Siskiyou County Historical Society. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing and shooting since childhood. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Eleanor, son Jeff and daughter -in-law April of Little Shasta, granddaughters Hallie and Katie Brown, Amanda Causway and Durell Van Alstyne, and nephews Bruce and Dennis Brown. He was preceded in death by his daughter Nancy, and brother, Gordon "Pat" Brown. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Madrone Hospice in Earl's name. Graveside services are planned for Wednesday, April 6 at 11:00 A.M at the Little Shasta Cemetery.

Earl George Brown

July 27, 1920 - March 28, 2011