George Thomas Brown

George Brown died March 31, 2019. His funeral Mass and committal service were held April 6, 2019. He was interred in the St. Paul Cemetery next to his beloved wife, Mariette Lajoie Brown, April 9, 2019.

George was born March 17, 1923, in Henryetta, Oklahoma. His family came out west during the Great Depression. He went to Lincoln High School, then the University of Portland before enlisting in the Army in 1942. After WW2, George attended several colleges and earned his French degree at St. Michael's College in Vermont. He met Mariette in Trois-Rivieres on one of his trips to Quebec. They were married in November 1949. George built their first home, a log cabin, in Beaverton, while working for the post office.

Around 1955, the family moved to Portland. In 1962, George transferred to Seattle to work for the National Labor Relations Board where he became the point man for civil rights issues. George became involved in Boy Scouts during this time. He was a Scoutmaster for years earning the prestigious Silver Beaver award for his service. His sons all became Eagle Scouts. George continued to follow this passion for scouting and the outdoors long after he stopped serving as a scoutmaster. He was often mountain climbing, traveling and still leading Mazama climbs at the age of 75. Mariette and George later moved to Vancouver where he was inspired by a gravestone to investigate the world of French-Canadian genealogy. His research helped solve 200-year old mysteries and helped put together ancestries for numerous families, including his own. He belonged to many historical societies.

After Mariette passed in 2000, George moved to St. Paul. During this time, he continued his genealogy work and eventually wrote much about the people and events in French Prairie Oregon. For all his work and research into the genealogy and history, he never asked for payment, viewing his work as a gift to people and their ancestors. George moved back to Portland in 2004.

George is survived by his children, George Lee, Julian, Suzanne, Larry, Henri and Louise; his grand-children, Christina, George, Colin, Sarah, Hassan, Marie-Louise, Jacob; and great-grandchild, Ash Trinity.

George faced many hardships in his life, but lived an incredible life with many achievements and love for his family and friends.

A celebration of his life will be held between 1-5 p.m., Saturday, May 4, 2019, at the residence of his daughter Suzanne.

For details, contact her at Suzmarx1@comcast.net. 

Donations may be sent to the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Knights of Columbus Council 15730.

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