John Wayland Brown II passed away peacefully and entered the house of the Lord on Thursday, January 2, 2025. He is survived by his wife, Sharon, and his five children: Randy (Marie) Brown, Todd (Chong) Brown, Jay (Tammy) Brown, DeeDee Reynolds, and Danielle (Darren) Wilson.
He was born in Watertown, NY to Wayland and Katie Brown. He is the eldest brother to Donald (Mary) Brown and Sally (Larry) Fay. He attended Sackets Harbor Central and graduated in 1958. In 1959 he married Sharon Halloran, his high school sweetheart and love of his life. Soon after they were blessed with five children. The family moved from Sackets Harbor to the North Country (Winthrop and Brasher Falls) in 1969 and remained there to raise their family.
John worked for Conrail as a fireman and engineer for 37 years in Watertown and Massena, NY. He loved his job and fondly talked about his co-workers and their stories that came out of work days transporting cargo to and from Canada and Watertown. After retirement, John and Sharon purchased a home in Naples, FL and wintered there for over 20 years.
John loved all sports and played football, basketball, baseball and track in high school. He was part of the Watertown Red and Black football team, as well as playing softball in Winthrop throughout much of his life. John was an avid sports fan and outstanding athlete. He participated in the NYS High School Basketball Championship his senior year and was recently inducted into the Sackets Harbor Athletic Hall of Fame, an accomplishment of which he is very proud. Jim Powers, his high school coach, was quoted as saying, "He was the best athlete that I ever coached."
Nothing brought him more joy than volunteering for a project with family and friends. He had a keen mind for construction and no project was too big or small for him. He loved to be outside doing yard work and prided himself on keeping his home and property neat, clean, and orderly.
He was extremely proud to be part of the Tri-Town Community and was instrumental in the development of the Tri-Town Community Center. He loved Winthrop and Brasher Falls and all of his friends there.
John leaves behind many family members including 10 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, brother and sister in-laws, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son-in-law, Chuck Reynolds, and Danny Truax, his daughter's fiance.
Contributions in his memory can be made to the Tri-Town Minor Hockey, PO Box 358, Brasher Falls, NY 13697 or Tri-Town Community Center, PO Box 40, Brasher Falls, NY 13613.
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