Larry Lloyd Brown

Larry L. Brown of Lake George, Colorado, passed away December 23, 2022 as a result of advanced cancer at the age of 78.  He is survived by his wife of 15 years Sally Melvick.   His children are daughter Laura Brown, his granddaughter Jessica Brown, his stepson Aron and wife Amber Melvick and their children Izzy, Gabe, Hannah, Nate and Kaylah, his stepdaughter Stacey and her husband Loren Bogard, and his step-daughter Lauren and her husband Ace Miller and their children Lucas, Sean and Elyse.  He is also survived by his sister Connie and her husband Ken Scutari.  Others who survive him are members of his extended families:  the Browns, Davis, Bammer, Duha, Steitz and Melvick families.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 35 years Susan (Sue) his son Eric, and his parents Josephine Elizabeth and Lloyd William Brown.

He was born in Boulder, Colorado and raised in nearby Louisville where he graduated high school in 1962.  He served in the US Marine Corps - for a portion of that time as Honor Guard to the Admiral of the Pacific Fleet.  He received his undergraduate degree and Master’s Degree in Educational leadership from University of Northern Colorado, Greeley.  Sue Duha and Larry were married in 1968.  They lived and taught in Wray, Colorado for a number of years.  When Larry received a principalship in Manitou Springs, Colorado, in 1980 they moved their family to the Colorado Springs area.  He was Principal of Manitou Springs High School until the early 2000s when he retired.  Following Sue’s tragic and untimely death in 2003, Larry worked as a real estate agent.  ­­­­­­He met and married Sally Melvick in 2007.  They found properties in Lake George, Colorado and Fort Myers, Florida and had a full and busy retirement.

Larry will be remembered for his strength of character (each challenge was greeted with his Marine training and powerful determination.) He was tested along the way most notably by the passing of his first wife Sue and later his son Eric.  He gathered himself, dealt with the difficulties and carried on in life.  He was strong, physically and emotionally.  He was wise but would not force his views on others.  Instead he gave people food for thought. He loved all types of music.  He could sing and dance like a pro.  He taught himself to play the guitar and thought of the deck of his cabin as the stage at Red Rocks.  Once on a cruise the crew picked him to compete in a singing and dancing skit and (according to Larry at least) he won the night’s competition and then the week’s competition.  He thought they underestimated him because of his silver hair. He was an avid fisherman and retired hunter.  If you ever took a ride in the Rockies he’d regale you with stories of ‘secret’ fishing holes.  He had a sense of wonder – especially evident when he traveled and was amazed by sights, people and experiences.  He was hilarious.  Whenever you watch a “Vacation” movie, think of Larry.  He and Clark Griswald were cut from the same cloth.  He was a natural jokester.  More than anything he was a warm and loving family member.  He loved reading stories to grandkids and being ‘Grandpa Larry’ to Jessica as she grew.  Many of us will miss him and are glad he was a part of our lives.

When Larry received the diagnosis 5 ½ years ago of cancer metastases, he showed great strength and grace.  He made the decision to do his ‘best’ each and every day and to find at least one ‘good’ thing that happened to him each day. Then he did just that.  We, family and friends sure will miss him a lot.

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