Eugene "Gene" Brown

Eugene "Gene" Brown, 84 of the East Cope Creek Community, passed away on Monday morning, June 5th at Haywood Regional Medical Center after a brief illness. He was a lifelong resident of Jackson County and the son of the late Jess and Guscelia Morgan Brown. 

Gene was preceded in death by six brothers; Hugh Robert, Fred (Leola), George (Helen), Delos (Phyllis), Hammie, and Clarence (Jackie) Brown; one sister, Bonnie (TC) Cogdill; and a brother-in-law, Carl Stanford.

He was a member of New Hope Baptist Church and attended Long Branch Baptist Church. Gene was a proud "Democrat and a Baptist". He was a jack of all trades. He went to Darrington, WA at age 17 to  log and came back home and joined the Merchant Marines for seven years. He came back to Jackson County and later bought and developed Sylva Vista Mountain Homesites in the Parris Branch Community. Gene continued in the Real Estate Business until his death. He never met a stranger and it has been said "he was one of a kind." He was always up to some sort of foolishness and always had a funny story to tell. It's also been said that he is the definition of what a "good neighbor" really was. He was always cooking and taking food to his friends and neighbors and visiting with them. He loved his mules and horses and loved taking younguns riding to the mountains, whether they were his own, or just the kids on Cope Creek. Gene loved to primitive camp for weeks at a time.

Gene is survived by his wife of 58 years, Priscilla "Sally" Brown; two daughters, Genia "Chum" Parris (Johnny) of Cullowhee, Pam Middleton (Chuck) of Sylva; one son, Rev. Avery Brown (Laura) and his faithful companion, Dusty, of Sylva. He was proud of his grandchildren; Jason Parris (Sarah) of Cullowhee, Jacob Parris (Bethany) of Highlands, Tuck and Bristol Brown of Sylva. One sister, Delia Stanford of Sylva also survives. A great grandson is expected in September.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday June 8, 2023 in the chapel of Appalachian Funeral Services with Jacob Parris, Rev. Jimmy Grissom, and Rev. Earl Holden officiating. Burial will follow in New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening June 7th from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Jason Parris, Jacob Parris, Tuck Brown, Ricky Crawford, Ricky Cook, Charlie Cook, Odell Lovedahl and Roger Brown. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Crawford, Reece Cook, Pete Blanton, Mitchell Burns, Michael Brown, Ronnie Cook, John Middleton, Bobby Middleton, and Daniel Broom.

In lieu of flowers, "do a good deed for your neighbor" in memory of Gene Brown.