Robert M. Brown, 83, of St. Helens, died peacefully at home on Jan. 20, surrounded by his family following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Robert was born the son of Glenn and Hazel (Clark) Brown on Sept. 21,1929, in Kadoka, S. D. He was raised in southern Oregon and in northern California and then moved to southern California where he graduated from high school in San Diego in 1947.

On Aug. 29,1948, he was married to Gwendolyn Oliver. They had four children together and they later divorced.

On May 27, 1967, he married Judy Hoppe in Las Vegas, Nev. Bob Later adopted her three children. They moved to St. Helens in 1968 where he owned and operated a custom cabinet shop for many years. He later expanded his business to included building custom homes in the Columbia County area until he retired in 1988.

He was an active volunteer with the Scappoose and St. Helens senior centers and was the treasurer for the Scappoose Senior Center for over five years. He was also a member of the St. Helens Moose Lodge.

He especially enjoyed the outdoors, camping, hunting and fishing. He also had his private pilot's license and owned and flew a Piper Cherokee for many years. He enjoyed square dancing with Judy and was a dance caller for many dances.

He is survived by his wife Judy, of St. Helens; son David (Karen) Brown of Scottsdale, Ariz.; daughter Terry Brown of Scottsdale; son Jerry (Kendal) Brown of Scottsdale; daughter Artis (Dennis) Rice of Warren; son Kenny Brown of Scottsdale; son Jim of Scappoose and daughter Tyra (Steve) Schroeder of Columbia City; brothers Clark Brown of Georgia and Dale Brown of Kennewick, Wash.; and 15 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one brother, one sister and a granddaughter.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, Feb. 1, at 2 p.m. at Columbia Funeral Home with a reception to follow at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made in his memory to Longview Hospice.

Source: St. Helens Chronicle