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James Robert Brown, 70 of Buda, Texas passed away Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023. He was born August 30th, 1952, in El Paso, Texas to Edward and Alice Brown. He is preceded in death by his mother and father.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara (Bollen) Brown of Buda, Texas; son, Christopher (Kate) Brown of Portland, Oregon; daughter, Rebecca (Kellyn) Prior of Austin, Texas; three grandchildren, Crosby Prior, Harrison Prior, and Frances Brown, brothers William (Debbie) Brown and Richard Brown, both of Tyler, Texas, brother in law Art (Christine) Bollen of Denver, Colorado, cousin Joe (Kathy) Puckett of Peoria, Illinois, and a host of nieces, nephews, and great nieces and great nephews.
Jim was born and raised in El Paso, Texas and graduated from Burges High School in 1970, where he met Bobbi, and they married on June 15, 1974, in El Paso. He attended Texas Tech University, achieving a Bachelor of Architecture in 1975. He practiced architecture in Houston, Texas, working with the prestigious firms of Morris Aubrey Architects and Ray Bailey Architects. Through that practice, he contributed to notable projects throughout Texas such as the Glassell School of Art of the Museum of Art,
Lamar High School additions and renovation, Travis Plaza Hotel, and Pecos County Courthouse renovation. After 12 successful years in practice, Jim left big city life to move to Mountain Home, Arkansas and followed his boyhood dream of owning a hardware store, serving that community with his wife, Bobbi, for 20 years as a business leader, youth soccer coach, sculptor, and woodworker.
After retiring from the hardware store, Jim re-entered his architectural practice. Those years in practice offered opportunities to work on residential, commercial and landscape architecture projects, both locally and internationally, designing houses in Botswana and Costa Rica. He continued his calling for service by lending his efforts to design the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas, Serenity Women’s Shelter renovation, a men’s shelter, and religious spaces in NE Arkansas. Additionally, he founded a deep relationship with the First United Methodist Church in Mountain Home, Arkansas, serving on the building committee for 12 years and made lasting contributions to several other committees over his 32 years of involvement.
Throughout those years, he provided steady leadership and design acumen to several expansion projects: the sanctuary’s large stained-glass window and the church’s Activity Center, the UMAC.
In their nearly 49 years of marriage Jim and Bobbi were side by side in raising their children, remodeling a 1930’s bungalow, running their hardware store for 20 years, travel, and serving their church and community. Jim was a beloved son, brother, husband, father and grandfather, and his legacy to give to others lives on in his family, friends, and all who knew him.
Jim returned to Texas to spend his final years close to his family and grandchildren.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Harrell Funeral Home.
The memorial service will be at 11:00 am, Saturday June 3, 2023, at Harrell Funeral Home, Kyle Texas.
An additional Celebration of life will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 605 W 6th Street, Mountain Home, Arkansas, on Tuesday June 20, 2023, with a time of visitation from 10:00 am to 11:00 am followed immediately by Jim’s memorial service at 11:00 am.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, Mountain Home Arkansas https://www.fumcmh.org/
Food Bank of North Central Arkansas https://www.foodbanknca.org/
To place an online tribute, please visit www.harrellfuneralhomes.com
