Mervin Lloyd Brown was born in Carroll Manitoba on January 23, 1936, the seventh of eight children to Norman and Ida Brown. He attended school at Neelin and Treesbank for the first few years of his life before seeking employment, where he worked for local farmers, and spent some time working on the railroad. On June 28, 1960, he married Sheila Thornitt and moved to Alberta for a short time before moving back to Brandon. Their son Philip was born in 1962 and another move took them to the junction of Highways 2 and 18 where they operated a service station and restaurant. When Philip started school they moved back to Brandon where Mervin worked for Cancade’s Manufacturing. Not long after that he started working on a paint crew for the Department of Highways and shortly after received a full time position with the Manitoba highways department based out of Wawanesa, where he retired comfortably at 55.
While working for the Highways Department, the family purchased a 40 acre parcel of unbroken land on the Number 2 Highway. Over the next year they spent most of their spare time carving what would become an award winning acreage into the brush. The final product was a home where they raised dogs, cattle, and had a market garden. Mervin later moved to a property he had previously purchased along the Number 10 Highway. For the next 25 years he lived there and continued his two favorite pastimes, gardening and raising cattle. He remained there until he moved to Victoria Landing with his partner Evelyn in 2016.
In 2022, poor health forced him to move to Hartney Personal Care Home where he passed away on July 13, 2024.
Anyone that knew Mervin knew he worked hard and loved to have fun. Not much in life was handed to Mervin and most of what he had were the fruits of his hard work. If you couldn’t find him out in his yard working then your next bet was his favorite chair where he liked to take his afternoon nap.
Mervin loved the country and the trees, but he had a strange relationship with the latter. His obsession with trees started in Brandon, where his 25 year old spruce trees were half the size of his neighbors as a result of his obsessive pruning. This continued to the farm where trees were cleared by the hundred, only to be replaced by ones that could be more easily pruned. Unfortunately for the trees, Mervin also loved his wood stove.
Mervin wasn’t much of a cook as Philips’ only memory of him using the stove was leaving the kettle on and burning the bottom out of it. Mervin wasn’t a religious man, but he sure did like the saying “Jesus Christ”. He liked it so much that even as Alzheimer’s progressed he never did forget it.
Some of his other favorite pastimes included the harness races, music, dancing, the slots, fishing, curling, playing cards, a good movie, and raising dogs.
In his younger and wilder days, Mervin dislocated his shoulder after being pulled on a pair of skis through the ditch by a car. It was horsing around like this that always brightened up his day, and made him so memorable to family and friends.
He never liked to be the center of attention but he loved to laugh and have fun. Throughout his life his laughter could fill a room, and we hope it continues to do so wherever you are now.
Mervin was predeceased by his parents Norman and Ida Brown. His wife of 35 years Sheila Brown (nee: Thornitt). Siblings Audrey (Russell) Angus, Russell (Stella) Brown, George Brown, Elmer (Audrey) Brown, Ray (Marion) Brown, Don Brown, infant brother Ralph Brown.
Mervin is survived by his son Philip (Tammy) Brown and grandson Luke Brown. Sister-in-laws Emily Brown and Margaret Brown and numerous nieces and nephews.
A private graveside funeral service was held at the Carroll Cemetery. In memory of Mervin donations may be made to the Hartney Community Health Centre c/o Prairie Mountain Health Box 280 Hartney, Manitoba R0M 0X0.