MONTICELLO – Michael G. Brown, 80, left us Dec. 29, 2011, to be with his creator. Mike was born July 9, 1931, in Houlton, to Frank Brown and Mary (Mahoney) Brown.
He truly believed in the Lord and lived his life accordingly by being an example for all who knew him as a person who was always willing to help the unfortunate in their time of need. He may have provided help in the form of a jump start for a stalled vehicle or maybe offered a tow to anyone who was stuck or volunteered a ride to a stranded traveler even though it may have been out of his way, never accepting any thing as payment. He truly believed in paying it forward and lived his life accordingly. When he was very young his family bought the farm on Lake Road, Monticello, and he continued to live there for the rest of his life. He lived a meager life, but one with respect and love for nature, always seeing the beauty in the gentle deer, a lonely clump of new spring pussywillows or a hidden patch of lady slippers – maybe picking an illegal bouquet to take back to his special lady. Mike’s idea of a day off was climbing Mount Katahdin at age 77, resulting in an interview with a newspaper referring to him as the “Mountain Man.” He was always a farmer at heart who believed in putting back into the ground more than he took away. He upgraded the land with miles of drainage tile, sod ditches, strip cropping and picking and disposing of millions of rocks and rocks and rocks. He was a man who loved his farm by keeping it mowed, trimmed, groomed and cared for. Nothing would be overgrown or in disrepair while he could still physically maintain it. “Not on my watch” was his familiar saying when it came to the farm and all of its buildings. He had a passion for farming and always took time to talk about all aspects of agriculture, participating in the infamous “border closing” surrounding the protests against Canadian imported potatoes. He met with the commissioner of agriculture and served on the governor’s task force and advisory board. For all of his efforts and hard work, he was awarded Outstanding Soil and Water Farmer of the Year for Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District. After he retired from farming, he was hired in the position of maintenance supervisor for St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Houlton, and spent 14 years caring for the church, its lawns, parking lots and mowing its cemeteries. He was in charge of all burials and lots within the Catholic cemetery. If a person needed any information regarding St. Mary’s Cemetery in trying to locate a loved one, Mike was the go to guy, knowing every plot, position and location of the deceased. His log was kept with love and respect for all of those who have gone before. Mike was very active in his community, being instrumental in starting and serving on Monticello Volunteer Fire Department, as a member of Monticello selectman and as a third degree member of Knights of Columbus serving those positions with pride and honesty.
He married Joyce Cousins and together they raised five children, Gloria, Barbara, David, Robert and Joan. Mike was the youngest of seven children and is survived by sisters, Katherine Bell of Houlton and Mary Moreshead of Southington, Conn.; brother, Richard “Dick” Brown of Lubec; and a very dear friend, Mildred Madigan. He was predeceased by brothers, Lewis, Paul and Lawrence. Mike has 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was blessed with so many special people in his life as they made a lasting impression within his heart. He wanted to recognize and send a final, “thank you and good bye” to Milton Cone; Father Dave; Glen Brown; grandson, Matthew; granddaughter, Kelly; the extended Madigan family; and to his son and best friend, Dave. The Brown family thanks Dr. Abouleish, and staff at Houlton Regional Hospital for their excellent care and comfort during his time of need.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary of the Visitation Church with the Rev. David Raymond, celebrant. Mike’s dream was to keep his property in his family for many years to come so he created a trust to last through his remaining surviving grandchild. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Brown Family Farm Trust, care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730. Online condolences and guest book at
www.dunnfuneral.com.