Donald L. Brown

Evangelist Donald Lee Brown, of Springfield, Missouri, went home to be with the Lord on January 12, 2010 at the age of 85 years. He was born in Richwoods, Mo., the son of Edgar and Lucinda Brown, on September 8, 1924. He served in the Merchant Marines during WWII. A member of Bible Baptist Church of Springfield, Don was an ordained minister of the Gospel. Don was married to Edna "Nita" Hightower in 1945, and shared 45 years together before Nita's death in 1990. To this union was born one son, Terry. Don was blessed to have shared the last 18 years of his life with his precious wife, Anne, who preceded him in death on October 27, 2009. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Terry and Elizabeth Brown of Cabool; six grandchildren, Sarah Kimani of Springfield, Rob and Beverly Sanchez of Kiamath Falls, Ore., Tiffany and Phillip Davis of Ava, Richard Sanchez of Tucson, Ariz., Susan Brown of West Plains, and Cheryl and Nicholas Clinton of Springfield; one sister, Marion Caldwell of Conway, Arkansas; seven great-grandchildren, numerous nephews and nieces, many friends and loved ones. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar and Lucinda Brown; two brothers, Kenneth and Joe Brown; and one sister, Patricia Frady. A faithful servant of the Lord, Bro. Don was known throughout the country as a fervent evangelist and a preacher who loved youth. Don accepted the Lord at the age of 13 in an old-fashioned Methodist revival. He surrendered to full-time service in the late 40's, and began his ministry in Buffalo, Mo., where he started the Bible Baptist church in 1950. He also pastored the Calvary Baptist Church in Chickasha, Okla., before going into full-time evangelism. Don preached in revivals, mission conferences, and youth camps and served as an interim pastor all across the country. He was instrumental in starting 67 new works, and saw many souls come to the Lord through his evangelism ministry. Because of his love for children and teens, he founded the Beth-Eden Bible Camp in 1973 in Conway, Mo. For 37 years, Beth-Eden Camp has held children and youth camps continuously with over 4,100 people saved and countless others having surrendered their lives to full-time service. Don had a gift for inspiring others to greater service for the Lord. Although his legacy will live on, Don will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Services will be Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 11 a.m. in Greenlawn Funeral Home East, Springfield, with Reverend Larry Hargus, Reverend Jim Fryer and Reverend John Day officiating and interment following in White Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday evening, January 15, 2010, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Greenlawn Funeral Home East. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Beth-Eden Bible Camp Memorial Fund, 1510 Timber Drive, Cabool, MO 65689.