Obituaries

Kenneth Ray Brown

Photo of Kenneth Ray Brown
Kenneth Ray Brown, of Conway, passed away December 12, 2013, at Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home in Russellville, Arkansas. He was born September 7, 1929 in Caldwell, Arkansas to the late James David Franklin (JD) Brown and Arval Allison (Allie) Hughes Brown. He was an ordained minister and was a member of Central Baptist Church of Conway. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Marie Wooten Brown. He is also survived by his two daughters Sandra (Steve) Francis of Jackson, Mo. and Judy (Thom) South of Conway, Ark., four grandsons: Matt (Melondy) Francis of Salisaw, Okla., Mark Francis of Perryville, Mo., Ben (Amy) South of Conway, Ark., Brett (Carissa) South of Moore, Okla., nine great-grandchildren: Gunnar Cooper, Cassandra Francis, Gracie Francis, Shelby Francis, Skylar Francis, Samara Francis, Connor South, Claire South and Christopher South and one great-great-grandson, Gavin Cooper. He was also preceded in death by his brothers Tommy Lee Brown, Allison Brown and Forrest Brown of Caldwell, Ark. and Wendell Brown or Forrest City, and his sisters Louise Brown Harris of Caldwell and Allyne Brown Wood of West Helena, Ark. Kenneth graduated from Forrest City High School in 1947. He graduated from Capital City Business School in Little Rock and in 1952 enrolled as the first student at Central Baptist College in Conway. He would return to CBC to serve as the chair of the history department. He retired from teaching after 40 years at the college. Bro. Brown served as pastor of Irvin Memorial (Grace) Baptist Church in Russellville, Antioch Baptist Church in Conway, Needs Creek Baptist Church in Greenbrier and Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Greenbrier. In addition to this he served as the interim pastor at several other churches in central Arkansas. He was known for his masterful story-telling as much as his knowledge of history. While his stories are missed here, we are confident he has new, glorious stories to tell now. A celebration of his life will be held at Central Baptist Church in Conway on Monday, December 16, 2013, at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Crestlawn Memorial Park. Family visitation will be Sunday, December 15, 2013, from 4-6 p.m. at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway. Memorials may be made to the Kenneth Brown Endowed Scholarship Fund at Central Baptist College in Conway or to Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home. Online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.

Published December 14, 2013

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