Donald Lee Brown

Donald “Don” Lee Brown, 79, of Myersville, Maryland, passed away on Thursday, January 26, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Kay Brown, of Myersville, Maryland.

Born on June 18, 1943, in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Donald was the son of the late Ernest Lee Brown and Doris Ruth Monroe Brown of Cordell, Oklahoma. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Business from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Following his graduation, in October 1965, he was commissioned into the United States Army and served as a “Huey” helicopter pilot in Vietnam, eventually attaining the rank of Captain and being awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. 

After leaving active duty in 1968, he earned a Master's Degree from Central State University (now University of Central Oklahoma) and spent most of his career as a healthcare administrator for University of Oklahoma Medical Center in Oklahoma City, then as President of Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He subsequently spent time as a healthcare consultant during his retirement. 

Don enjoyed traveling to many places during his life, and he loved the sea, fishing, boating, sailing, and spending time at beaches near and far, from Maryland to Grand Cayman. He and his family made many fond memories over the years sailing the Chesapeake Bay on their sailboat, the Sooner Schooner. Some of his other favorite pastimes included spending time on the golf course in Nags Head, NC, watching wildlife around his home in the mountains near Myersville, and researching and chronicling family history.

In addition to his wife, Sharon, he is survived by sons, Christopher Brown and wife, Kimberly, of Yukon, Oklahoma, and Bradley Brown and wife, Alison, of Virginia; and daughter, Kristin Smedley of Frederick, Maryland; as well as seven grandchildren who knew him as “Cap”, Ryan Spadaro, Madison Smedley, Braeden Smedley, Evan Smedley all of Maryland, Keaton Brown of Yukon, Ok, and Henry and Andrew of Virginia. He is also survived by brother, Thomas Brown and wife, Judy, of Cordell, Oklahoma; former wife, Beverlee Brown, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and five nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Gathering to celebrate Don’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 3, 2023 at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike in Frederick. Burial, with military honors, will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 515 S. Market Street in Frederick. 

Following the burial, family and friends are invited to an informal luncheon from 1 to 3 p.m. at Tenth Ward Distillery, 55 East Patrick Street, Frederick, Maryland, where there will be opportunity to share personal memories about Don. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation at   https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/.