A Celebration of Life Service for Carroll Brown of Crawford, Nebraska will be held on
Wednesday, March 4, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Crawford, NE with Pastor
Dusty Sprague officiating. Inurnment will be at the Crawford Cemetery at a later date.
Carroll L. Brown, 87, of Crawford, NE, died Friday, February 27, at Chadron Community
Hospital.
He was born September 4, 1927, in Lincoln, NE to Jesse F. and Sylvia F Brown.
He enlisted in the Navy as a Reservist in August of 1945 and reported for duty in September.
Sometime after boot camp, three months of mess cooking duty at Camp Shoemaker, CA and aboard
the U.S.S. Intrepid, an aircraft carrier anchored at Hunter’s Point adjacent to Frisco, something told
him that when he got out he should aim for a music teaching degree. He was discharged in August of
1946 and promptly enrolled at the University of Nebraska. Carroll later changed to active status and
was called to duty in July 1950 serving in Japanese waters as Chaplain’s Assistant on the U.S.
Hector. He was discharged in August of 1951.
Carroll received his Bachelor of Music in Education from the University of Nebraska in 1950
and a Master of Arts in 1955 from the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley, Colorado.
He married Pat Hunsaker on December 27, 1953 in Stromsburg, NE. To this union were born
three children: Royce, Heather and Lynn. He married his current wife, Shirley M. Mason-Mehring on
October 24, 1974 in Crawford, NE and acquired a family of four children; Twila, David, Shirlene and
Peggy.
Carroll had a life-long association with music, having taught 36 years in public schools in
Nebraska and Wyoming. He had the privilege of professionally playing the trombone in the Lincoln
Symphony Orchestra while in high school and college; served as Choir Director and/or
organist/pianist for most of his professional life and after; organized and led the Community Chorus in
Crawford from 1978-1981 and directed the Basin/Greybull, WY area community chorus from 1987 to
2011. He had composed choral selections, all performed, none published, and arranged for brass
ensembles, also performed.
After his initial discharge from the Navy he began acquiring a real interest in firearms and it
remained an integral part of his life. After retiring from teaching Carroll opened gun shops in Basin,
WY and Crawford, NE. Carroll and Shirley traveled many years to gun shows throughout neighboring
states making lifelong friendships along the way.
He also had a great interest in western history which his library reflected. While in Crawford,
Carroll worked for the Historical Society at Fort Robinson for 8 years, first as tour guide then as
assistant to the Curator under Vance Nelson.
In May of 2013 Carroll suffered a stroke which made the move to the Ponderosa Villa Nursing
Home in Crawford necessary. While there he received wonderful, loving care by all of the staff. After
15 months of being confined to the nursing home he became determined to go home and take care of
his wife. On July 11, 2014 he walked out of the Ponderosa Villa to go home. He enjoyed seven
months at home where he continued to amaze his family every day with his positive attitude and
determination.
Carroll has been a member of the National Rifle Association since 1947, an active member of
the Methodist Church, he served on the Board of Trustees of Big Horn Library and was a member of
the American Legion.
Carroll was a man of great integrity and saw every day of life as a blessing. He shared great
wisdom, his dry sense of humor and much love with his family and friends. He will be greatly missed
by his family and those who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one granddaughter, Teresa Vogl-Lewis.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley of Crawford, NE; Brother-in-law Gary Mason (Sharon) of
Kearney, NE; Sons: Royce Brown (Pauline) of Seneca, NE; David Mehring (Christie) of Gering, NE;
Daughters: Heather Serres of Mankato, KS; Lynn (Dan) Borges of Sidney, NE; Twila Vogl (Dave) of
Crawford, NE; Shirlene Groethe (John) of Rapid City, SD; Peggy Howard (Kim) of Morrill, NE; 16
Grandchildren and 29 Great-Grandchildren.
Honorary Pallbearers: Jim Brown, Mike Karel, John Leonetti, Vance Nelson, Marv Rich, Sons, Sons-in-Law, and Grandsons.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Crawford Rescue Unit for all the times
they transported Carroll. Donations can be mailed to the Security Bank, P.O. Box 506, Crawford, NE
69339.
Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlaichapel.com
Chamberlain Chapel of Crawford is in charge of arrangements.