Leonard Brown

LEONARD LEE BROWN Leonard Lee Brown was born March 25, 1941 in Sharpsburg, Iowa to Marvin "Skeeter" Brown and Bernice Williams Brown. He died suddenly on Sunday, February 7, 2010 in his home at Lake Ozark, Missouri. Leonard grew up on the family farm in Iowa, graduated from Lenox High School and attended Clarinda Community College. His business career started at Place's Dime Store and he went on to own Brown's For Him and Brown's For Her in Chillicothe, Missouri. He also had fireworks stands, a gift shop, a used car lot, a bar and restaurant and spent a number of years as a wholesale furrier. He made a new home for himself at the Lake of the Ozarks where he was fondly known as "Downtown Leonard Brown." After years of traveling to Las Vegas for vacations, he decided to make that his home. While in Vegas, he sold timeshares for a number of companies and enjoyed all the city had to offer. Everywhere he went he was selling something and making life-long friends whom he loved dearly. He was certainly blessed with the "gift of gab" and had a unique ability to engage people and tell stories. Leonard had recently decided to move back to the lake to be closer to his family and friends. His family feels very blessed to have had him here with everyone this past Christmas. Leonard often spoke of how proud he was of his family and how much he loved them. Live, Love, Laugh was the philosophy he lived his life by and what a wonderful ride it was. Anyone who knew him loved him and those who spent time with him certainly had a lot of laughs. With his passing we remind ourselves that he would want us to Live, Love and Laugh. Leonard is survived by a daughter, Cindi Martens and husband Duke of Overland Park, Kansas; two sons, Brian Brown and wife Kim of Collierville, Tennessee and Dan Brown of Overland Park, Kansas; four grandchildren, Adam Martens of Sarasota, Florida, Amanda Williams and husband Rick of Lee's Summit, Missouri, Mason Brown and Kayla Brown both of Collierville, Tennessee; a brother, Roger Brown and wife Rhonda of Lawrence, Kansas; two nephews, countless cousins and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents. A casual celebration of his life will be held from 5-8 p.m., Monday, February 15, 2010 at Casablanca, 1312 Bagnell Dam Boulevard, Lake Ozark, Missouri. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at the First Christian Church, Lenox, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made, in memory of Leonard Brown, to the American Heart Association, 6800 w. 93RD Street, Overland Park, KS 66212. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Camdenton.