Harry Brown

BROWN, Harry

It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Harry Brown in Barrie on Sunday November 7, 2021 at the age of 87. Loving son of the late Dora (nee Dalglish) and the late Harry Brown. Beloved husband of the late Luella (Lu) Brown (nee Heise). Proud father of Tom (Cathy Hull) and Merrilu (Darran Helmer). Dear brother of Robert (Elaine) Brown and the late Isobel (Bill) Dickie. Cherished by grandsons Christopher and Nicholas Beckett-Brown (Sabine Bouchard) and in recent years, bonus granddaughter Brittany (Ryan) Baker (nee Helmer).

An avid outdoorsman all his life, Harry instilled a love of the outdoors in his children and subsequently, his grandchildren, as well as mentoring many other colleagues and students. He began his teaching career in Ottawa where he met Lu when she was the school nurse at the same school. In the summer, they worked at summer camps, which led to a career shift and a move to Huntsville in 1970 to work full time at Camp Tawingo, where his contributions have become legendary. Harry went back into teaching at Spruce Glen School in 1973, where he remained until he retired in 1989. Many of his students fondly remember trips to the sugarbush at the Brown’s property, as well as rocket launches and camping trips, both winter and summer. There were many parents begging him to teach just one more year so their children could have the benefit of being his students.

Harry was a long-time member of the Huntsville Nature Club and the Huntsville and District Agricultural Society, assisting with the judging of children’s literary entries. He also volunteered with Meals on Wheels and with the Hospital Auxillary, both unofficially and officially, and helped to maintain the Lu Brown Memorial Garden at the front of the hospital.

Through Muskoka Seniors for Nature, Harry presented various slide shows at local retirement homes and was a part of the Muskoka Conservancy, receiving the Wayland Drew Award for his contributions to the preservation of natural areas. He was also instrumental in the development of the nature trail system at the Ontario Teacher Federation’s Campground near Dunchurch, where the Browns, the Tripps and the Shaws have camped together for close to 50 years. His campfire stories, complete with nature calls, and his star gazing sessions will not be forgotten. Nor will the many years of making award winning maple syrup, at the Huntsville Fall Fair and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, with the help of good friends, particularly the Stickland family, Hall Seely and Elmer Dobson. There were a few sugarbush parties over the years that lived up to The Rover’s ‘Wasn’t That A Party’.

His recent years were much more low key but he still loved to watch the birds and comment on cloud formations and their potential for precipitation.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, November 26th at Billingsley Funeral Home in Huntsville. Friends can gather at 1:00pm with the live streamed celebration of life starting at 2:00pm. A light lunch will follow. Proof of vaccination and masks will be required.  Please RSVP your attendance by contacting Billingsley Funeral Home at 705-789-8982.  All Covid restrictions will be strictly adhered to mandated by the Province of Ontario and the Bereavement Authority of Ontario.

Due to scent sensitivities of members of the family, please refrain from wearing perfumes, colognes and heavily scented lotions if attending in person.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Muskoka Conservancy or the Heart and Stroke Foundation is greatly appreciated.  Messages of condolence can be left at www.billingsleyfuneralhome.com