I. Oliver Brown

I. Oliver Brown, 77, of Grant Orchards, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008, in Moses Lake.

Oliver was born Nov. 11, 1930, in Ellensburg, to Norman L. Brown and Daisie Brightrall Brown. When he was 3, he moved with his parents to Yakima, where Oliver grew up along with a younger brother, Norman Travis Brown.

Oliver graduated from Yakima High School in 1948. He met Nancy Crabb of Yakima on a blind date in 1954, and married her in June 1955, just as he was graduating from Washington State College (WSU) with a degree in agricultural economics. For a brief time, Oliver and Nancy operated an agricultural trucking business, until Oliver took a job with Production Credit Association in Moses Lake. Four years later they moved back to Yakima, where he became a manager within the same company.

In 1971, he went to work for Full Circle, Inc. Around that time he returned to college, attending Central Washington University and obtained another degree in accounting in 1974. The couple then moved to Ephrata and Oliver became the business manager for the Ephrata School District. He retired in 1993, very proud to leave the school district with a plus balance. Upon retiring, he dived into raising cattle on the couple's ranch on the eastern edge of Grant Orchard, where he raised cattle with a passion for 17 years, finally selling the last of his stock in 2005. Oliver kept his hand in the cattle business, employing his vast knowledge and keen eye as an order buyer for area cattlemen. He delivered his last order in November.

Oliver thoroughly enjoyed collecting miniature farm implements and trucks. He loved dogs and cats and wide open spaces. For a time, he taught gun safety classes in Ephrata. He liked a good joke or a story and had a vast repertoire of both. He enjoyed reading, especially historical biographics, and had a interest in genealogy which spurred him to collect photos and anecdotes of his own cousins and other long lost relatives.

Oliver was a successful calf and team roper in his younger days. He avidly followed rodeo all his life, even attending the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December.

Oliver lived his life trying to be a moral person, and to do the honorable and right thing always. He accomplished many things in his life, and frequently did it without taking credit or seeking thanks. His friends and family will remember him for his gruff exterior, his sense of humor, his hard work ethic and his willingness to share his stories jokes and opinions.

He belonged to the Ephrata Masonic Lodge 167 and Blue Mt. Lodge 13, the Scottish Rite, the Oasis Chapter OES and the Cattle Producers of Washington. He and Nancy were members of St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church in Grand Coulee.

Oliver was preceded in death by his mother, father and brother. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, and all of their six children, 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Children are Sarah Benson (husband Michael), Norman L. Brown (wife Janet), Catherine Hillis (husband Robert), Elizabeth Treiber (husband Mike), David O. Brown (wife Tracy) and Douglas Brown. Grandchildren are Gwyneth Benson Lang, Brian Benson, Paige Matson, David N. Brown, Jeffry Hillis, Kirsten Hillis, Kyle Hillis, Lura Treiber, Paul Treiber, Curtis Treiber, Ryann Brown and Erynn Brown.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Spokane Shriner's Hospital.

A funeral service was held Saturday, Feb. 9, at 1 p.m. at the Methodist Church in Ephrata, followed by a graveside service at Valley View Memorial park in Soap Lake. Arrangements are being handled by Nicoles Funeral Home.