Merle Franklin Brown, Sr.

Merle F. Brown, Sr. 94, of 2324 Camelot Circle, Johnson City, died Monday, June 30, 2008 in the Lakebridge Healthcare Center. Mr. Brown was a native of Edwardsville, Indiana, was a former resident of Louisville, KY. He was a retired Fire Marshall with thirty four years of service in the Louisville (KY) Fire Department/Fire Prevention Bureau. Mr. Brown was a member of the Heritage Baptist Church. He is preceded in death by: his parents, James and Katherine Arnold Brown; his wife Lorena Klinger Brown in 2002; a daughter Judith Thornberry; two grandsons, Phillip Jeffrey Brown and James Thornberry II; four brothers, Bernard Brown, Ewell Brown, Richard Brown and Litton Brown; two sisters, Lois Livingston and Geneva Wolf. Survivors include: one son and daughter-in-law, Merle, Jr. and Phyllis Brown of the home; four grandsons and one granddaughter, Larry Brown and Mike Brown, both of Johnson City, Jimmy Thornberry and Angela Young, both of Louisville, KY and Chris Thornberry of Cape Coral, FL; five great grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren. The graveside funeral service for Merle F. Brown, Sr. will be conducted at 2:15 PM on Monday, July 7, 2008 in the Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park 2853 Sunset Point Road in Clearwater, Florida. Mr. Larry Waldroute will officiate. Services in Florida are by the Dobies Funeral Home in Holiday ( 727-937-7555). Memorials may be made in the form of contributions to the First Baptist Church, 4807 Mile Stretch Road, Holiday, Florida 34690 or Heritage Baptist Church, 1512 John Exxum Parkway, Johnson City, TN 37604.