J. Lane Brown

J. Lane Brown, 81 of Swink, passed away on Sunday, April 18th at the Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center. Memorial services will be Friday, April 23rd at 2 p.m. at the St Andrews Episcopal Church with Father Bernhard Ebert officiating.
J. Lane was born March 20, 1929 in Pueblo, Colorado to James Lane and Turza Pauline (Dammann) Brown, Sr. He married Deana Marie Williams on April 19, 1958 at the First Presbyterian Church in La Junta.
He attended Centennial High School in Pueblo, graduating from La Junta High School in 1947. He was a member of De Molay, Master Councilor of Joe Hawkings Chapter in La Junta in 1947, and received a Chevalier Honorary Degree. While he attended OJC he worked for his father at Culligan Soft Water. He attended Colorado State College (now UNC) in Greeley, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education / minor in Science in 1952. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1954 and played with the 324th Army Band in Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland. After attending CSC in the summers, he completed a Masters of Arts in Music Education in 1962.
Following his discharge from the Army in 1956, he began teaching band, orchestra and vocal in elementary and Jr. High School in La Junta. Later, he taught high school band, choir, madrigal, stage band, marching band, and music theory until 1978. He taught band and chorus at Rocky Ford elementary, Jr. High and High schools until 1984. He worked for McKenzie Music Store as a salesman until 1994.
An accomplished trumpet man, from the time he was out of the Army, he played dance jobs around the Arkansas Valley usually at Henry’s Supper Club, owned by Henry Minor, and with the Frankie Bregar Band in Pueblo. He also played for many years in the group Browns’ Clowns. He was a member for several years of the Pueblo Municipal Concert Band and the Pueblo Pops Orchestra playing trumpet and French Horn. He also played with the Midland Brass Band in Colorado Springs and the Fourth of July Band at the Broadmoor, the Al Kaly Shriners band and the Sam and Sheila Combo. He also organized and played with Sophisticated Swing. For twenty five years he was the musical director for the Picketwire Theatre, writing and orchestrating music for many musical productions working with Mickey Miller and Jeff Church with the La Junta Children’s Theatre. He also worked with Ed Stafford at OJC on musical productions and directed choir at the Presbyterian Church.
He is survived by his children, Jim (Sandy) Brown of Swink; Turza Kathleen Carroll of La Junta; and Diana Marie (David) Fogler of Kodiak, Alaska; grandchildren, Jeremy, Davis, and Davey of La Junta, Aimee and Deana of Alaska; Clayton of La Junta; and Tina of Montana. Six great-grandchildren also survive.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James Lane & Turza Pauline Brown, Sr.; wife, Deana on Dec. 19, 2007; and his grandchild, Deanna.
Peacock-Larsen funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Music Scholarship Fund, c/o Colorado East Bank & Trust direct or through the funeral home.