Ray E. Brown, aka, Papa Ray, passed away peacefully on September 26, 2019 at the ripe old age of 92. Ray was born June 25, 1927 in Falls City, NE to Donald and Dora (Wheatley) Brown.
Having only an 8th grade education didn’t limit him in life. He served in the US Navy during WWII as a gunner’s mate on the USS Monrovia.
Ray married the love of his life, Doris Jean McKay on March 3, 1946, and they raised three children, Mike, Linda, and David.
An avid sportsman, Ray worked tirelessly as Chairman of the Save Our Wetlands Committee. He spent many happy hours in the duck blind or on the lake. He raised champion appaloosa horses, trained champion retriever dogs, served as a 4-H leader, Adams County Fair Parade Chairman, and worked as a color commentator for Nebraska Public TV during many broadcasts of the Nebraska State Fair Appaloosa Horse Show.
Ray was not a perfect man, and had many struggles along the way. His strong Christian faith helped him through the tough times. Perhaps he is best known as Papa Ray, proud owner of Papa Ray’s Pizza, where he worked from 1959 until his retirement.
Ray is survived by his daughter, Linda Brown Anderson of Gladstone, MO, and his son, David Brown of Hastings, NE; 13 grandchildren; 41 great grandchildren; 9 great-great grandchildren; his brother, Keith Brown of Lincoln, NE; his sister, Madeline Fox of Ft. Collins, CO; and son-of-the-heart, Justin Wilson.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Doris; his son, Michael Brown; daughter-in-law, Dellene; brothers, William Harold Brown, Donald Duane Brown; sisters, Maxine Dorothy Brown, Colleen Dora Pfingsten, Grace Jane Brown; and two great-grandsons, Zachary and Jesse.
Memorial services will be at 11 AM Thursday, October 3, 2019 at the Cawker City United Methodist Church. Cremation has been chosen & there will be no visitation. Memorials may be given to the Wounded Warriors Project.