Obituary of Jim Brown

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jim Brown. He was taken from us suddenly on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 at the age of 75 years. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. Jim will be greatly missed by his loving wife Maxine; his girls, Sharon (Richard) McNiven, MaryLynn (Oscar) Walter and Trish Brown; five granddaughters, Julia, Raylee (Nathan), Lisa (Matt), Dana, and Rana; brothers, Allen (Elaine) and Buster (Jo); sister MaryLou (Stan) Balkham; and numerous nieces and nephews. Born October 25, 1929, Jim spent his youth in Foremost where he made many lifelong friends and met his future wife Maxine. Jim and Maxine were married in 1950 and soon after, moved to Lethbridge. Jim, his father and brothers started a family sign business in 1949, National Neon Displays Ltd. Jim was eager to share his expertise in glass bending but his real talent was in sales. The company expanded to Calgary in 1963 where Jim’s family relocated to manage the new plant. Jim made many good friends in the sign business, maintaining many of these contacts until his recent death. Horses were always Jim’s passion and he was heavily involved in rodeo with his family. They often laughed about his early rodeo days as a bareback rider, knowing he preferred calf roping. In later years Jim loved raising horses and in his eyes all of them were “future barrel prospects.” He was often heard to say he’d been “hauling barrel horses since 1954”. Maxine shared Jim’s passion for horses and rodeo and together they involved their girls from a very young age, always encouraging and supporting them. For this, the girls will be forever thankful. Jim made numerous good friends through rodeo, maintaining these friendships and building many more over the years. He was instrumental in promoting amateur rodeo through advertising, putting his expertise to work finding sponsors for rodeo events as well as radio advertising. Jim made his last calf roping run this past Spring at the High River Senior Pro Rodeo. Jim was very active with his family. He and Maxine spent hours at riding arenas, on the ski hill, and in recent years at graduations, skating events, volleyball games, and college rodeos, supporting their grandchildren. Jim was always generous, helping the neighbors in his community. After retiring in 1994 he finally fulfilled his dream of being a farmer, buying a quarter section of land north of their acreage. He truly enjoyed his retirement, spending endless hours fencing, haying, and breaking his colts. Funeral Services will be held at the Balzac Community Hall, Balzac, AB on Tuesday, November 16, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made in Jim’s memory directly to S.T.A.R.S. (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society), Box 570, 1441 Aviation Park N.E., Calgary, AB T2E 8M7 Telephone: (403) 295-1811, www.stars.ca. In living memory of Jim Brown, a tree will be planted at Fletcher Park in Airdrie by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot Chapel, 82 Crowfoot Circle N.W., CALGARY, TELEPHONE: (403) 241-0044.