Maurice F. Brown

BURLINGTON – Maurice F. “Brownie,” “Moe,” Brown, 88, a longtime resident of East Montpelier, passed away peacefully with his son, daughter, and son-in-law by his side, on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Birchwood Terrace Nursing Home in Burlington.

Born on July 9, 1935, in Burlington, he was the son of Frederick B. and Eula P. (Fifield) Brown. He attended East Montpelier Elementary School and graduated from Montpelier High School in 1953.

On May 30, 1959, he married Barbara Gavin in the St. Sylvester Catholic Church in Graniteville. Following their marriage, they made their home for decades in East Montpelier. In 2019, he and Barbara moved in with his daughter and son-in-law in Hyde Park.  Most recently he lived at Birchwood Terrace Nursing Home in Burlington. Barbara Brown passed away on April 8, 2023.

For most of his life, Maurice was a truck driver, working for Delair’s Meat Market in East Montpelier then transitioning to delivering home heating fuel oil for the Miles Coal Company, Cray Energy, Hersey Fuels, and then as a manager/driver at Johnson & Dix Oil Heat Specialists in Barre, retiring in 1995. He also worked many weekends at the Twin City Motel in Berlin.

He was a member of the Old Brick Church in East Montpelier as well as the East Montpelier Historical Society. Also, he participated in a bowling league at Twin City Lanes where he served as treasurer.

In his spare time, besides bowling, he enjoyed antique cars, jigsaw puzzles, reading,  listening to country music, fishing, and working around his house – mowing lawns, stacking wood, and making repairs. He was fond of going out for rides on Vermont’s scenic backroads. He enjoyed watching Boston Red Sox baseball, car racing (especially NASCAR), and Kentucky Wildcat basketball. He loved spending time with his family, and friends. He often stopped to talk with people, whether he knew them or not, and was known for his jokes. He had a great sense of humor, loved making people laugh and often had a sparkle of mischief in his eye.

Survivors include his daughter Michele Brown Bailey and her husband Brickett Bailey of Hyde Park, VT and his son Maurice Patrick Brown of Essex Jct., VT; his grandsons Harold L. Bailey III of Edmunds, WA and Frederick G. Bailey of North Hyde Park, VT; his brother Robert Brown and his wife, Carolyn of East Montpelier, VT; his sister-in-law Patricia Mills of Manchester, KY; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife Barbara Brown.

The service to honor and celebrate his life will be held on Monday, May 20, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. in the Hooker Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street, Barre. Following the service, interment will take place in the Plain-mont Cemetery in East Montpelier. Family and friends may call on Sunday, May 19, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, VT Chapter, 75 Talcott Road, Suite 40, Williston, VT  05495, or via www.alz.org