BROWN, Philip Ray

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ August 27, 2010 Philip Ray Brown, 74, of Sandy, Ut. died peacefully in the comfort of his own home Aug. 22, 2010, after a prolonged battle with cancer. Phil was born June 19, 1936, in Los Angeles, Ca. to Joseph Albert and Elda Whiting Brown. Phil spent his childhood in his beloved St. Johns, where he worked on the family ranch, and forged lifelong relationships with his brothers and sisters and his many relatives and friends. Phil is the younger brother of retired Arizona Legislator Jack Brown. Upon completion of an LDS Mission in Brazil (1956-59), Phil married Antoinette Hatch of Colonia Juarez, Mexico for time and all eternity on Dec. 20, 1960, in the Mesa Arizona Temple. Together they had 11 children and their greatest happiness was their 39 grandchildren. Phil graduated from Brigham Young University in 1961 with a B.A. in animal husbandry. A lifelong athlete and sports enthusiast, Phil was an avid fan of BYU athletics. Phil worked hard his entire life, first as a rancher and farmer, later as the BLM Chief Appraiser of Arizona, and finally as a specialist in the LDS Missionary Department. Blessed with an inquisitive mind, Phil loved learning and teaching, and he devoted much of his life to studying the gospel of Jesus Christ. Quick with a joke and always ready to laugh first, Phil was the life of every party. He loved sharing his thousands of stories with friends and relatives, spending time with his children and grandchildren, watching Westerns, playing basketball and reading. Always active in the LDS church, Phil held many church callings during his life, serving as a missionary, gospel doctrine instructor, stake mission leader, bishop, and mission president. He shared the calling he enjoyed most with his wife Netta, when they presided over the Porto Portugal Mission from 1990-93. The Phil Brown family shares their sense of loss with our extended family and friends, many faithful missionaries, and the wonderful church members of Portugal. Phil is survived by his 11 children Debbie (Jon) Moody, Draper of Ut.; Becky (Bernie) Hofmann of Yakima, Wa.; Joe (Natasha) Brown of Pleasant Grove, Ut.; Buffy (Stewart) Robbins of Sandy, Utah; Jacque (Rob) Likes of Draper, Ut.; Tim (Heather) Brown of San Clemente, Ca.; Jeremy (Kimberly) Brown of Orem, Utah; Misha (Adam) Edwards of Draper, Utah; Nikki (Darren) Harris of Huntington Beach, Ca.; John (Johanna) Brown of Austin, Tx. and Lexi (Casey) Patterson of Huntington Beach, Ca. His 39 grandchildren will miss playing games and eating candy with their grandpa Brown. A viewing will be held Friday, Aug. 27, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Buttercup Chapel located at 1600 East Buttercup Drive (100th South) in Sandy, Ut. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Aug. 28, at 10 a.m. at the same location. A viewing will precede the funeral from 9-9:45 a.m. The family wishes to acknowledge all those who made Phil's final years full of comfort, joy, and happiness. He is again united with his sweetheart, Netta. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the LDS Missionary Fund.