Leroy Seabrook Brown

It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved husband, brother and friend, Leroy Seabrook Brown, on Monday, September 20, 2021, of COVID-induced pneumonia. Despite being vaccinated in January, he was somehow exposed and was unable to fight it off.

Leroy was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on July 18, 1949, to Anna Bell (Betty) Seabrook Brown and Leroy A. Brown.

He attended school in Oklahoma City, graduating in 1968. Leroy began working in the construction industry for his grandfather and uncle as a teenager, where he learned his skills of finish carpentry and cabinet building, which stood him in good stead for a lifetime career of building beautiful furniture and cabinets. Leroy moved to Missoula in 1971, where he established a business building and installing cabinets and countertops. He also worked with many contractors and homeowners to build custom items, such as built-in shelving, wine cellars, and fireplace surrounds, and he maintained his custom furniture business when he had the time to indulge.

Leroy met his wife, Annette Raymond Brown, the love of his life, in 1980 while working for a mutual friend in Polson. They married in 1982, and began a life of gardening, cooking, camping, hunting and fishing. Leroy designed and built their dream home up Highway 12 outside of Lolo in 2005, where he spent his remaining years landscaping and caring for their yard and gardens. Leroy was a man of many talents and interests. His hunting camps became increasingly comfortable as time went on, and as he spent more time with his brothers-in-law or friends in camp. He had a passion for trains and railroad history, and had a wonderful Lionel setup in the basement of their home.

Leroy loved to cook, but his favorite tool was the smoker. His ribs were legend, and his briskets and pulled pork would melt in your mouth. He loved cooking for company, and enjoyed spending time with friends and family. And he also swapped daily dinner responsibilities with Annette to share the load.

He worked on cars as a teenager, and picked up the hobby again in his sixties. He rebuilt two Explorers into one awesome four-wheeler, which traveled with Leroy and Annette on an epic journey to Moab in 2016.

Leroy’s knees and hips finally succumbed to arthritis, and he spent the last couple of years in a wheel chair, which didn’t slow him down much. He kept up his cooking and gardening, and had a specially equipped Caravan he could drive so he could maintain his mobility.

Leroy is survived by his wife, Annette, in the family home, and two sisters, Peggy Bailey and Gloria Suggs of Oklahoma City. He is also survived by many brothers- and sisters-in law, and nieces and nephews around the country, whom he loved very much.

Although we would love to have a huge celebration of his life, we do not wish to expose others to the risk of COVID. A private burial is planned, and the celebration will be announced at a later date.