Ramon Vay Brown

Ramon Vay Brown was born March 5, 1930 to Frank and Bertha (Eckhart) Montgomery, in Norcatur, Kansas. His mother died shortly thereafter, and at the age of six weeks he was adopted by Lyle and Wilma (Billie) Brown. In 1936 the Browns packed up the family possessions (including the dog), and drove from Kansas to Milton-Freewater, Oregon, in time for Ramon to begin first grade. Throughout his life, beginning at a young age, he was always involved with animals. He loved horses, and had a herd of dairy cows as well as beef cattle. Ramon always had pet food in his pickup to feed stray dogs and cats, and was known to his family to have a soft spot for all animals – dogs, cats, chickens, you name it. One cat followed him everywhere around the farm for years. Early on it became apparent he was an excellent horse trainer, and along with people bringing horses to him, his father would purchase horses for him to train, then they would be sold. He said he never knew what horses he would find in the corral or pasture when he came home from school.

In 1948 he graduated from Mac-Hi, where he was active in football and FFA, and served as senior class president. He was named an FFA State Farmer and attended two FFA National Conventions in Kansas City. The Sears-Roebuck Foundation selected Ramon as a winner of a Guernsey heifer, one of the Foundation’s projects to help deserving young farmers get a herd started.

He married Marilyn Fisher on July 7, 1951, and they purchased and moved to their farm on the Old Milton Highway in 1957. They had two daughters, Connie and Jerri.

Ramon and Lyle farmed together for many years, raising sugar beets, alfalfa for hay and silage, as well as alfalfa seed, wheat, barley, and green peas primarily. As part of their cattle operation, they also maintained a 250-head feedlot in Oregon. Ramon was proud of receiving recognition for raising high-tonnage sugar beets, for which he and his father received a special award from U&I Sugar Company, and for being one of the first farmers to raise alfalfa seed in the Valley, in the Umapine, Oregon area. Later in life he farmed with his son-in-law, Jim Vinti, branching out into raising onions and other vegetable crops, along with hay and grain, and also had a hog operation. Subsequent to suffering his first stroke, Ramon retired from farming.

He was a member of the International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Enterprise Lodge #2 for over 50 years, and during his membership, held many Lodge offices, including Noble Grand. Other memberships included Walla Walla Wagon Wheelers, Northwest Grain Growers, U & I Sugar Beet Growers Association, Walla Walla Gardeners Association, Walla Walla County Cattlemen’s Association, and others.

When his children were in school, he served on the Braden School Board of Directors and, along with the directors was a very hands-on member - whether it was selecting a new teacher or helping with the Halloween Haunted House, he could be counted on. He was also a member of the Educational Service District 123 Reorganization Committee.

Ramon enjoyed children, and although his large stature could have been scary, kids always saw through this and were drawn to him. He was a mentor to many young people who came to work on the farm, several of whom came to visit him later in life and to thank him and let him know what a positive impact he made on their lives, which meant a lot to Ramon. At one family reunion, he and Marilyn were presented with a plaque in their honor and in thanks for their help in “always being there for so many of us.”

Ramon’s wife and family meant everything to him. He was a loving father. The girls have fond memories of riding on tractors beginning at a young age, and going to horse and cattle sales with their dad or visiting him and taking him a meal when he was operating a Caterpillar tractor to push pea vines on the slab at the cannery…..and some not-so-fond memories also associated with long harvest hours, contrary tractors, truck breakdowns, jammed hay balers, and moving sprinklers, etc. No matter how busy he was, Ramon always tried to be involved in his daughters’ activities, and made sure they had wonderful horses to ride He hauled horses to the mountains and accompanied the 4-Hers, as well providing a truck for sleeping for overnight 4-H trail rides; served as judge for many horse events; helped with Kids Night at the fairgrounds during the winter months; was asked to announce for horse events; drove 4-Hers to the mountains to gather the greens and pine cones used to make Christmas wreaths for fundraisers for years, and then provided his farm shop to make them in; provided the truck and straw for 4-H hayrides, and usually drove; purchased a cider press and helped pick up windfall apples to make cider for 4-H events; assisted at Valleyettes’ events, including parades and drills; provided a practice arena for many years, including when daughter Connie took over as 4-H leader; and just always tried to be there if his farming activities allowed it. When his daughters were selected to serve on rodeo courts, he helped with the horses and carried flags, and made sure all court members - his daughters’ and everyone else - had their cinches tightened before run-ins! As a side result of being involved, he served as 4-H and Open Class Horse Superintendent at the Walla Walla Fair for several years, and was a long time 4-H horse leader, during which time he served as 4-H Leaders Council President. An avid rodeo fan his entire life, he and Lyle provided the calves for various roping and other competitions, including the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days, for years. In 1970, when the Southeastern Washington Fair events were in danger of being rained out, then-fair manager Frank O’Leary asked for his help in drying out the arena, and Ramon spent hours on a tractor working the arena. He was proud also that he was asked to help when tractor work was needed for the foundation of the Mormon Church on Second Avenue.

Ramon enjoyed travelling…and finding and talking about good places to eat. He loved to tell jokes. He would always take time to visit with people and would talk to anyone and everyone, and he loved “people-watching” while waiting for Marilyn and the girls to finish shopping.

Of special meaning to him in later years was that his brother, Richard Eckhart, came to Walla Walla annually to visit, usually staying with the family two weeks, which was a highlight for Ramon and his family.

Survived by his wife, Marilyn, at the home; daughters Connie Vinti and Jerri Ramsey; former son-in-law Jim Vinti, who remained special to him and with whom he farmed; sister Greta (Brown) Hassler; brother Richard (Mildred) Eckhart; half-sister Pheobie (Marvin) Stutheit; beloved nieces and nephews, cousins, and special friends. The family wishes to gratefully acknowledge and thank Dr. Michael Wilcox and Dr. Brent Clark for the wonderful care and personal attention they provided Ramon, and Alicia Salazar and the incomparable staff at Miranda’s Home Care, where Ramon received wonderful, loving treatment over a long period, when he could no longer be cared for at home. They became family as well, and Ramon loved his caregivers, all of whom are very special people.

Funeral services will be held Friday, September 6, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at Herring-Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 West Alder, Walla Walla, with interment to follow at the Mountain View Cemetery. There will be a gathering for friends and family after the service in the St. Francis Catholic Church Parish Hall, 722 West Alder, Walla Walla. The family hopes that you will come and share a memory (or maybe even one of Ramon’s jokes!) at that gathering, or they would gratefully appreciate memories shared on-line. Memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Mountain Humane Society or to a charity of the donor’s choice through the funeral home.