Wayne Anthony Brown

Wayne Brown, beloved brother, husband, dad, uncle, granddad, friend and long time Claremore band director, left this earthly world on January 27, 2012. He was 59 years old.

Wayne was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to his proud and wonderful parents Warren and Lorraine Brown, who loved and cherished him every moment of their lives. He attended McClure High School in St. Louis and attended Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri. He was an extraordinary trumpet player and musician, and played with the St. Louis Symphony, the Fred Simmons Big Band and many other professional groups in the St. Louis area. He majored in music education at Central Methodist and directed and played in the Teaberry Basement Band.

Upon graduation from Central Methodist he worked as a band and choral director for one year in Kansas and one year in Missouri, when he was offered a graduate assistantship at the school he loved so dearly, Oklahoma State University. He was able to work under the direction of his mentor, Paul Montemuro. At OSU he assisted with the marching band writing shows, directed the brass choir and the second jazz band, and taught private trumpet and French horn lessons. He left OSU after gaining his master's degree in Curriculum and Supervision of Instrumentation.

In 1978, Wayne was hired by Dr. Bill Salwaechter as the Claremore High School band director. He planned to work in Claremore for a couple years and then go back to school for a doctorate degree, but instead stayed in Claremore and taught at Claremore High for 26 years, retiring in 2005. Wayne was the director of ten state champion jazz bands which was a record for the state of Oklahoma when he retired. Wayne founded the Rogers County Honor Bands and was proud to be involved in the planning of the Robson Performing Arts Center.

Wayne married Malinda Brown in 1986. He became not only a husband, but step-dad to Steve and Natalie Pazzo. He and Natalie shared an interest and love of music, and he and Steve shared an interest in hunting, fishing and baseball. Both teenagers were not only his step-children, but also his students at Claremore High. Wayne's nephew and namesake, Wayne Brown, who is now 21, follows in his uncle's footsteps and is also an extraordinary trumpet player and is pursuing his degree in music education at Lindenwood University in St. Louis. Wayne was thrilled to share his passion with his nephew, and was so proud of him. Other soon-to-be great trumpet players in the family include Wayne's nephew, Michael Brown and his grandson, Hayden Jones. Grandsons Wyatt Jones and Owen Pazzo are guitarists, and granddaughter, Sophie Pazzo is a violinist.

Wayne loved the St. Louis Cardinals and the OSU Cowboys. He was always proud to be the band director at Claremore High School where he described the students and parents as some of the greatest people he ever knew. Wayne's greatest passion was his family. He was very close to his brother, Allen Brown. He was madly in love with his nephews and grandchildren and gave them music as his legacy. Wayne was absolutely positive that his work as a teacher was the exact vocation he was directed to do on this Earth. He hoped his work transcended the music.

Wayne was preceded in death by his mom and dad. Wayne leaves his wife, Malinda, of Claremore, brother and sister-in-law, Allen and Jerri Brown, and nephews Wayne and Michael Brown of St. Louis, MO; step-son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Cheena Pazzo; step-daughter and son-in-law, Natalie Pazzo Jones and Jeff Jones; and grandchildren, Hayden and Wyatt Jones and Sophie and Owen Pazzo, all of Claremore.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, February 1, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Claremore at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Wayne's name to the Claremore Band Boosters Association, P.O. Box 2052, Claremore, OK 74018.