Milton Moore Brown, 90, passed away Monday, April 29, 2013, at his home in Dorsey. He was born December 2, 1922, in Starkville to the late James Quitman and Dovie Brown. He graduated from IAHS in Fulton in 1940 and then worked several odd jobs in addition to working on a farm for his dad. He married his high school sweetheart, Grace, on June 27, 1942. After being married for 18 months, he was inducted into the Marine Corps. He left home in November, 1943, just five weeks before their son, Larry, was born. He was in boot camp in San Diego at Camp Pendleton. From San Diego, he left on a cattle boat, the USS Polk, headed to the South Pacific. His first battle was at Peleliu on Sept. 15, 1944. He was in the First Marine Division, 1st Battalion, 11th Marines and was a gunner on number 2 gun, a 75 MM Howitzer. From Pelileu, he went to Guadalcanal headed to Okinawa. He landed on Okinawa on April 1, 1945, on Easter Sunday. The battles in which he was involved were fierce, and several times he had close calls, even having the stock of his gun shot out from under him. When the war ended, lacking a few points to be able to come home, he was sent to China. He left China on December 20, 1945, headed to the United States. Once he got back to San Diego, he rode a slow-moving train to North Carolina, then to Birmingham, where buses were on strike. He managed to catch another train to get the rest of his way home. He loved his country and gladly fought as a proud Marine, but he was happy and thankful to get home to his family. He finally was able to see his son for the first time.
After being home for a few months, he was employed by JESCO Construction Company where he worked for 42 years until his retirement. He and his wife, Grace, moved from Fulton to Dorsey in 1990. He and his family were long-time members of Trinity Baptist in Fulton and Bethel Baptist in Dorsey. He was a deacon and a Sunday school teacher. He was a faithful member of the morning coffee group at Comer’s where he boasted of his membership in the Democratic Party. He had a lively sense of humor and a distinct personality. He was recognized each Veterans’ Day at the high school as a Marine; students knew he was the one who always waved his cap and yelled when the Marine Hymn was played. The highlight of his life was when his daughter arranged for him to go on the honor flight to see the WWII monument in Washington, DC.
Services will be at 2 p. m. Thursday, May 2, at the Bethel Baptist Church with his grandsons, Matthew Brown and Terry Lolley, officiating. Interment will be in Itawamba Memorial Gardens with military honors. McNeece-Morris Funeral Home of Fulton is in charge of the arrangements.
Survivors include his children, Larry (Twila) Brown of New Salem, Betty (Lonnie) Harris of Dorsey; James Moore (Kerri) Brown of Columbus, Ga., and John Mark Brown of Indianapolis, Ind.; his grandchildren, Kevin (Debbie) Brown, Larinda (Terry) Lolley, Matthew (Nikki) Brown, Joey (Mary Kate) Brown, Candy (Steve) Knight, Beth (Luke) Dycus, Lisa (Brad) Cresap, Austin (Brook) Brown, Jonathan (Grace) Brown, and Russell, Karli, Lyndi, and McKenzi Brown; his great-grandchildren, Glynn and Jordan Brown, Morgan and Erin Lolley, Emily, Nason, Timothy, and Kelly Brown, Josiah Milton, Carpenter, Sadie, and Anna Katherine Brown, Noah and Anna Catherine Brown, Shelby and McKenzi Knight, Hannah and Eli Dycus, and Taylor and Caden Cresap; his sister, Mary Lilly Black; and his sister-in-law, Clyda Martin.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Grace; his parents, James Quitman and Dovie Brown; and his brother, James Edward Brown.
Pallbearers will be Kevin, Glynn, Jordan, Joey, Austin, and Russell Brown, and Caden Cresap. Honorary pallbearers will be all the employees of JESCO.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p. m. Wednesday, May 1, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home in Fulton and from 1 p. m. until service time Thursday, May 2, at the Bethel Baptist Church.
