Gordon Brown

Gordon L. Brown, 84, of Glenns Ferry, died with his family by his side at his home on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009, following an illness.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, at 11 a.m. at Glenns Ferry High School, in the Gordon Brown Gymnasium. Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

Gordon was born on March 3, 1924, in Paul, Idaho, to Albin and Myrtle Brown. He attended school in Paul and graduated from Paul High School in 1942.

He received his Bachelor of Arts in Education from Southern Idaho College of Education at Albion, Idaho, and his Masters in Education from the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho.

He served in the Army Air Corps/Air Force during World War II and received an honorable discharge in 1949.

Gordon met his future wife, Betty Varin, from Gooding, while attending school in Albion. They were married on May 26, 1949, in Gooding.

Gordon and Betty moved to Glenns Ferry in 1950 and Gordon took up the position of boy's basketball coach and teacher. He taught business education classes and coached basketball for 35 years, was the assistant football coach 22 years, varsity track coach for four years and was the golf coach for eight years. He also served as principal for the high school for 24 years.

Gordon was on the Idaho Coaches Association Board where he held the positions of vice president for three years and president for three years.

He also served on the National Rules Committee for basketball for a short time, during which the "three-point play' was installed in the basketball game.

Gordon was inducted into the Idaho Scholastic Activities Hall of Fame in 1982. That same year he was named National High School Basketball Coach of the Year, at an award banquet held in Indianapolis, Ind. He was inducted into the North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame in Coeur D'Alene in 1982.

Gordon was a 50-year member of the Paul Masonic Lodge, No. 77 of AF&AM of Idaho.

He was a charter member of the Glenns Ferry Lions Club and served as secretary.

Gordon retired from teaching and coaching in 1985.

After retirement, Gordon and Betty spent 12 years being snow birds in Yuma, Ariz., during the winter months.

They lived in their motor home while they were in Yuma. They also did a lot of traveling in that motor home.

Gordon enjoyed following sports, watching his grandchildren play sports, as well as all other sports. He spent as much time as possible playing golf.

Gordon is survived by: his wife, Betty, of Glenns Ferry; his three children, a daughter, Connie, and her husband, Pat Stilson, of Camarillo, Calif., a son, Richard, and his wife, Kari Brown, of Glenns Ferry, and a daughter, Susan Chiaravalloti of Anaheim, Calif.; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, four sisters and three brother-in-laws.