Tyre Harris Brown II, beloved husband of Rita Daniel Brown, died following a brief battle with cancer, at age 71, on June 8, 2011. They were nearing their 50th anniversary. Mr. Brown was born in New Haven, Connecticut on December 8, 1939. He grew up in Houston, Texas and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Because of his strong love of mountains, they settled in Flagstaff in 1970. He was quoted as saying when he saw the San Francisco Peaks, "I knew I had come home." He completed his Bachelor of Arts and Master's Degree in Physical Science at Northern Arizona University. During his career, he had worked as Lab Manager for the NAU Physics Department, at the Wire and Cable Division of W.L. Gore, and prior to retirement had been an educator with the Flagstaff Public Schools. His love of learning encompassed many subjects and he was a naturally gifted teacher in the sciences and math. As a member of the Steering Committee under President John Kavanagh, he was proud of helping to get the Coconino Community College for Flagstaff on the ballot. He was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church, serving as an altar boy at age 12. At Church of the Epiphany in Flagstaff, he served most recently on the Vestry, the Finance Committee and Holy Folders volunteers.

As a young man, he was a member of the Fraternal Order of DeMolay, sponsored by the Freemasons, Flagstaff Jaycees in the 1970s, and had this year been awarded his lifetime Elks membership in the BPOE Flagstaff Lodge #499. He had a lifetime passion for flying, which led him to join the Civil Air Patrol. He retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel and had flown many search and rescue missions for the local squadron.

He was a great student of history, with a special interest in the Civil War. Growing up, his interest in sports included Western saddle horseback riding, expert level figure skating, Alpine skiing and hiking the Grand Canyon with the Prairie Trek.. He and his family shared a great love of all kinds of music, especially classical and folk. He played the guitar and loved to dance. He and Rita had been very active in musical theatre in their early marriage and Ty had even been an extra in several movies filmed in this area. He spoke some Spanish and a smidgen of German, but expressed regret that he had not learned more foreign languages.

Ty was a great animal lover and especially intrigued with the endless variety of dogs, birds, fish and reptiles. He and Rita had spent many years rescuing abandoned cats in their neighborhood.

He is survived by his wife Rita, his son Warren Brown and fiancee Genevieve Weckwerth of Colorado, his daughter Halli Fossaceca, her husband David and their children Josephine and Dakota of Colorado. He is also survived by his younger sister, Evelyn Tumlin and her husband Bob of Mississippi, and their children Russell and Steve, his 100-year-old aunt Kathleen Toler who resides in Washington state and several cousins, nieces and nephews throughout the United States.

Memorial services will be held at Church of the Epiphany at 423 N. Beaver St. Sunday, June 12th at 2:00 P.M., with a reception to follow in the parish hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to Make A Wish Foundation, Hospice or the Cancer Society.