Marlin Blaine Brown

Marlin Blaine Brown, beloved, selfless and devoted husband, father, granddad, great granddad, brother, uncle, friend and, as his wife, Jeanie, said, “the rock of our family,” passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on September 9, 2023. Marlin was born December 13, 1934, in Beloit, Kansas, to Herbert Grant Brown and Elizabeth Schaeffer Brown. When he was three, Elizabeth died and Herbert moved the family to Sarcoxie, Missouri. Until school age, Marlin spent his days with his Daddy, riding on his lap on the tractor and sitting in the field while he worked. He spoke often of this precious time, and of his childhood on the farm milking cows with his sisters and playing army with his younger brother, pretending to be their older brothers who were fighting in WWII. They later welcomed a new sister, his daddy having married Frances, followed by a baby sister six years later. Marlin always spoke of Frances with honor and deep respect. He spent his teenage summers working wheat harvest near Glen Elder, Kansas, living with his Uncle Frank and “second family” and spending time with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.  All of this helped shape Marlin into the hard-working, sensitive, selflessly devoted and loving man that he was.

Marlin graduated Sarcoxie High School in 1952. (He attended his 70th high school reunion last year.) After graduation, he moved to Wichita with the goal of earning money for tuition for the University of Missouri, where he was honored to have been accepted. He went to work for Fred Snavely, who became his mentor, at Fred’s Radiator Shop, renting a room in his boarding house and sometimes being asked to flip hamburgers at the diner he owned next door. Fred’s wife had a lasting impact on generations by inviting Marlin to church and introducing him to Jesus. Mrs. Snavely signed letters to Marlin and Jeanie in years to come as “Mom Snavely”.

On the other side of the diner, Marlin saw a pretty girl one day in the front yard while the girl was visiting a friend’s home. That friend was dating a friend of his and he soon met Jeanie and they began dating. When asked who saw whom first earlier this week, Jeanie said “it was probably me.” Marlin and Jeanie became a couple but duty called as Marlin was soon drafted and left for Fort Benning, where he was proud to serve in the Army. During his first leave, the two married on December 27, 1956, and returned to Fort Benning. Marlin was devoted to Jeanie from the start. He and a friend routinely stuffed their bunks, sneaking off the base at night to go home to their wives.

After serving as a medic in the Army, Marlin was honorably discharged and they moved back to Wichita, where he again worked at Fred’s but quickly got the itch to start his own business. Soon after, he bought Tulsa Radiator Shop and moved the family to Oklahoma in the Spring of 1962, one month after the birth of their first child, Stacy. Marlin worked six days a week and the business grew to two locations and became a distributorship for Mangum and Daniel Radiators.

The family also grew with the births of Penny and Mark Marlin. In 1970, they moved to Inola. They raised their children in church, teaching them faith, family, fun and the value of hard work. They blessed their children with memories of working in the vegetable garden, riding horses, playing in the woods and creek of Commodore Hollow and weekends at the lake with friends and family. Marlin also enjoyed farming cattle in the early years but found it comical that the children named the cows which were being raised for the beef.

Marlin enjoyed hunting, fishing, and water skiing, and welcomed new adventures, like jumping off the cliffs at Greers Ferry Lake with his grandkids well into his 60s. He enjoyed preparing meats for holidays on his smoker; hosting fish fries and 4th of July picnics for extended family; and attending Brown Family Reunions in Glen Elder. He loved Tulsa Oilers hockey and OU football. And he loved to tell a good joke, often smiling or chuckling before the punch line.

After retiring at 57, he and Jeanie began a new phase of life, traveling to all 50 states and Canada over the next decade. In later years, he and Jeanie treasured this period of fun and shared adventures, visiting family and friends along the way.

Marlin humbly served his family, his country, his church and his community well. He served as Sunday School Superintendent, served on the Gregory School Board, and was an officer and Man of the Year of the National Radiator Association. Marlin was quick to help with cleanup after a tornado, sit with a friend at the hospital and even in his 80s, fight a grass fire, helping save his neighbor’s home. Marlin and Jeanie were members of First Baptist Church of Inola and the Masters Sunday School class.

Above all, Marlin loved the Lord and his family. He had a deep and abiding faith and a kindness that was evident to everyone he met. He served as an example to his children of a Godly life. His devotion and love for Jeanie guided all that he did. He enjoyed countless hours with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, attending games and performances and just spending time and playing with them, which often involved rides on his four-wheeler. Marlin was also much loved by nieces, nephews, and other extended family members. One put it best upon learning of his passing: “Uncle Marlin was just the best.”

Marlin is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jeanie; daughters Stacy Andrews (Kevin) of Rutledge, TN and Penny Wilbourn (Gordon) of Little Rock, AR; son Mark Brown (Darlene) of Gainesville, GA; grandchildren Kara Ring (Travis), Jake Andrews (Amanda), Anna Wilbourn, Blaine Brown, Miller Wilbourn, Grace Barber (Sam) and Rachel Wilbourn; great-grandchildren Hadley and Harper Ring, Claire and Eli Andrews and Josiah Barber; sisters, Marvalee Hawkins (Ken) and Barbara McCall (Bob); and countless nieces, nephews, great and great great nieces and nephews and friends.

The family would like to thank all medical team members, who treated him with such good care, in particular Dr. Rajesh Chandwaney, who has treated him since his heart attack in 2014.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Inola.