Johnny Ray Brown

Johnny "John" Ray Brown, age 70, passed away at his home in Moran, Kansas, surrounded by family, on April 27, 2024.

John was born in Coffeyville, Kansas on September 21, 1953, to Montie and Peggy (Symonds) Brown. He attended school in Hutchinson, Kansas, graduating from Hutchinson High School in 1972. While in school, he met the love of his life, Karen, in Jinx Wright's advanced art class. Karen refused to date him until he went to church with her. He accepted Jesus as his Savior, and was baptized in early 1972. John received his draft notice in March of 1972, and shortly after proposed to and married Karen before he left for basic training at 32nd Street Naval Base in San Diego, California.

While John was in the Navy, he was stationed on the USS Samuel Gompers AD-37 and was sent on a Westpac Tour, where he assisted with the withdrawal of troops from Vietnam. Following his active duty service, John returned to Hutchinson. He and Karen welcomed three children, while he remained in the active reserves for two years.

After some time in Hutch, the family moved to Blackwell, Oklahoma, where John worked in the oil field. In Blackwell, John began working in respiratory therapy at Blackwell General Hospital. This led to him becoming a credentialed respiratory therapist, and he was later offered a position as department head of respiratory therapy at Wilson County Hospital in Neodesha, Kansas. John and Karen then moved back to the Hutchinson area to be near their aging parents. During this time, John went back to school at Hutchinson Community College School of Nursing to become an LPN. He worked as a prison nurse at Hutchinson Correctional Facility for several years, before eventually retiring to Moran, Kansas.

John was active in the Patriot Guard in Hutchinson with American Legion Post 68, Legion Riders. He was an artist at heart, and anything he built or created showed his passion. Together, John and Karen enjoyed traveling to places that were fun and educational with their children, and liked to travel the United States, both in their car and on the motorcycle. He was always active in church, no matter where he lived, and helped build two new churches. John loved music, specifically rock and roll, and working puzzles; never anything under 1,000 pieces. John also loved his schnauzer dogs, and his chihuahua that he adopted two years ago. He was a fighter, battling cancer for eight years while also helping his wife remodel their old home in Moran.

John is preceded in death by both his parents; mother-in-law, Bertie Swepston; father-in-law, Harold Swepston; and brother-in-law, Kevin Swepston.

John is survived by his wife of nearly 52 years; children, Leslie "Missy" Brown (Fernando Vizcarra II) of Wichita, John Benjamin "Ben" Brown (Caitlin Rohan) of Lafayette, California, and Melinda "Mindy" Brown (Derek Montford) of Wichita; grandchildren, Kristofer Brown (Shyanne Turner), Jayson Jones Brown, Tiara (Jay) Venegas, Annalea (Ulises) Lopez, Takoda Bowman (Nia Russell-Spees), Emma Brown, Benjamin Leach, Lillian "Lily" Gunn, Liam Brown, Isla Brown; step-granddaughter, Jalynn Montford; great-grandchildren, Kenai, Laken, and Elijah Venegas, and Ceora "Cece" Brown; sister, Joyce Bess of Parsons, Kansas; brother-in-law Kent (Stephanie) Swepston; sisters-in-law Becky Swepston and Kathy (Mike) McEwan; many nieces, nephews, cousins and others that John considered to be family; as well as two fur-babies, Eva and Plum.

A Celebration of Life for John is planned for May 10, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, 1883 US Highway 54, Iola, Kansas. Inurnment will follow immediately after the service at Fort Scott National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Wings of Warriors or Midpoint Baptist Church, and left in the care of the funeral home. Condolences can be left for the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.