Morton E. Brown

1935 - 2013

Morton E. Brown July 24, 1935- August 1, 2013 Morton Brown died last Thursday after a difficult illness. Mort as he was known to friends and family was highly regarded as a key community leader having served as a key manager and financial advisor in Bakersfield for almost 40 years. Mort frequently appeared on local television to give commentary about the local economy. He also helped to create the city's first community foundation, and worked closely as a consultant to the Mid State Development Company and as a volunteer with SCORE which helped many small businesses receive SBA loans. For many years, he was on the vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal Parish. After being born in Modesto and growing up in Shafter, Mort attended then graduated from Stanford University in 1957. After a two year stint in the Marines as a second lieutenant during which he served overseas in Lebanon on a peacekeeping force, he subsequently attended the University of Washington where he received his MBA in 1961. Mort then ran the Arvin office of the family business Brown & Bryant until 1968 when he changed careers and became a financial advisor for EF Hutton. In 1982, he became manager of the EF Hutton office. Mort's tenure there produced the hiring of some of Bakersfield 's top financial advisers. In 1988, Mort left management and went to UBS where he stayed until his retirement in 2003. Mort is survived by his wife Liz, his brother Jack, his sister Mary, and his three sons Paul Kent and Mark and 6 grandchildren. Mort was predeceased by his wife Ann to whom he was married for almost 50 years until her death in 2007. Upon marrying Liz, in 2008, Mort enjoyed some of the happiest times of his life. Together they played bridge, watched Angel's baseball games, and traveled extensively. He especially enjoyed visiting Liz's daughter Casey and her husband Jim Schuler in Utah where they would take in the great fishing and the Shakespeare festival. A memorial service is planned for Saturday Aug. 10 at 1pm. at the Trinity Anglican Church (Oive Drive Church) at 5500 Olive Dr. A reception will be held at the Stockdale Country Club immediately following. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bakersfield Museum of Art. www.bakersfield.com/obits