SAND SPRINGS - Kirby Lynn Brown, of Sand Springs, died Aug. 16, 2023. He gently and peacefully walked on in the presence of his children and caregiver.
Widely acknowledged as the unofficial mayor of South Moss Lake Road, Kirby was born on July 1, 1937 in Winters, the first of three children to Kelly Brown of Winters and Opal Morris of Ballinger. In the late 1930s, they moved to the Centerpoint area north of Big Spring, farming a section of land on the Gail Highway where he helped his family raise cotton, sheep, cattle, and Shetland ponies. He always looked fondly on this time in his life where he made lifelong friends, learned the ropes of farming and livestock ranching, plowed his first field at the age of 11, and got into more than a little trouble with his faithful collie dog, Laddie. In the late 1940s, the family moved “into town” to a small house on Owens Street before settling down on Ridglea Drive just behind Big Spring High School. A few years later, they relocated to San Angelo where his father worked for Tennessee Milk. A year later, Kelly purchased a Metzger’s Milk franchise and the family moved back to Big Spring. After his parents divorced, he left school at the age of 15 to help support the family, running the milk franchise with his mother Opal. With the help of family, friends, and committed teachers, he eventually went back and got his high school diploma in 1957. He considered this one of the greatest achievements of his life and he always encouraged his kids and others to pursue education of all kinds.
After spending two years at Howard County Junior College, he married Dee Mayberry of Big Spring and sold the milk franchise to take a yard position at Cosden Oil and Chemical Company. A year into this new phase of life, he was drafted into the US army in 1960, receiving his commission as a private first class at Fort Ord, CA before transitioning to Fort Lewis, WA, where he attained the rank of Sergeant. Though offered an opportunity to attend Officer Candidate School, he elected to return to Big Spring and resume his career at Cosden in 1963. Known as “Bigfoot” to all who knew him, he spent the next 35 years of his professional life with the Cosden family of outlaws, characters, comedians, and generally solid men, attaining the position of Maintenance Superintendent before his retirement in 1995.
In February of 1974, he married Sharon Starr, and, with their three daughters and newly born son in tow, moved to South Moss Lake Road in Sand Springs. Over the next 40 years, Kirby and his family were longtime parishioners of Midway Baptist Church and active contributors in the local community. In addition to coaching Coahoma Little League Softball for the famed Lions dynasties of the 1970s and 80s, he was elected to the Coahoma School Board in 1977 where he continued to serve over the next nine years. All four his kids, and two of his grandkids, attended Coahoma Schools. Reflecting his commitments to God, family, community, and service, he also served on multiple boards of directors, including a 35-year stint at Wes-Tex Telephone Co-Op, a 14year span on the Coahoma Water Board, and short terms on the Texas Electric Credit Union and as treasurer of Midway Baptist Church. He was also a proud, longstanding member of the Big Spring Masonic Lodge, attaining his 33rd degree in 1973. He was awarded his 50-year pin in 2022.
They say the greatest gift a man can give is a bit of his time each day, and throughout his life, he most treasured time spent with family and friends—from attending boat races with the Tuckers and Reids, hitting the links with the rabbit drive and his fellow retired Cosden co-workers in Fredericksburg, and serving as grand marshal in the Coahoma parade, to scooting a boot to Jody Nix and the Texas Cowboys at the famed Stampede (“Hey Jody, play me The Big Ball’s In Cowtown!”), hauling trucks with a motley crew of ruffians for White Motor Company, and attending early morning breakfasts with his North Side Dairy Queen, Taco Villa, and Denny’s gangs. Most importantly, he made every family event he could attend right until the end—from reunions, graduations, and weddings, to births, memorials, and other celebrations. He was also a consistent friend, making a point to regularly visit friends in good times and in bad. He was the best son, brother, uncle, dad, PopPop, and friend on the planet and will be greatly missed by those whose lives he touched. He was a gift we got to have for a brief moment, but oh what a moment it was.
He was preceded in death by his father Kelly Brown, mother Opal Mae French, sisters Darleene Herring, Sue Carter, and Judy Ray, brothers-in-law Joel Kenneth Carter, Jr. and TG Herring, and nephew Stephen Lyn Ray.
He is survived by his three daughters Andrea Gee and her husband Gary of Sand Springs, Ronda Rutledge and her husband Zane of Portland, OR, Shanna Cahill and her husband Leland of Georgetown; son Kirby Lynn Brown II and his wife Katharine of Eugene, OR; six grandchildren and three-and-ahalf great grandchildren, Sterling Faught her husband Dustin, and their sons Hudson and Grayden of Midland; Kylie Barta her husband Clint, and daughter Swayzie of San Angelo; Dakota Cahill his wife Emma, and their daughter-to-be Stevie of Kyle; Dylan Cahill of Houston; and Raven and River Rutledge of Eugene, OR.
Memorial service was Aug. 21 at Midway Baptist Church with Pastor Mike Seay officiating. A procession followed to Trinity Memorial Cemetery where Kirby was laid to rest with military honors.