Obituary of Jack Gibson Brown

Jack Gibson Brown was born March 31, 1918 in Grove, OK to Frank J. and Mary (Gibson) Brown, a pioneering family of Cherokee descent, both graduates of the Cherokee Nation Seminary in Tahlequah, OK. He passed from this life Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at the age of 98. The family moved to Tulsa where Jack graduated from Tulsa Central High School, earning the Bauer and Francis Award as the best all-around student athlete. He lettered in golf and basketball, but his favorite sport was baseball. He was an avid Cardinal’s fan. He graduated from the University of Tulsa with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in geology and was member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Jack enlisted in the U.S. Navy the week after Pearl Harbor was attacked. On March 7, 1943 he married Barbee Ann Watts. Shortly after, he embarked on a three-year assignment aboard the battleship U.S.S. Washington. One of the dwindling members of the Greatest Generation, he was enrolled in the National Memorial Society for World War II. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Kathryn Bilbo; and his brother, Bob Brown. He was also preceded in death by his son, Martin Edward Brown and his daughter-in-law, Patty Brown. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Barbee Ann Brown of the home; his only daughter, Ann Gibson Brown Large and her husband, Fred R. Large of Edmond OK and their children, Chad Large of Sapulpa, OK and Sisney Large of Oklahoma City. Additional grandchildren include the sons and daughter of the late Martin and Patty Brown, Matthew and Erica Brown of Tulsa, Andrew and Nicole Brown of St. Louis MO and Alison and Sean Boland of St. Louis MO. Twelve great-grandchildren; faithful niece, Linda Miller and nephew, John Bilbo. The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 PM Thursday at Ninde Brookside Chapel, 39th & South Peoria. A celebration of life is set for 12:00 PM Friday at Memorial Baptist Church, 2800 S. Yale Ave. In lieu of flowers, friends may contribute to the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children, 3800 N. May Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73112 or www.obhc.org.