BROWN Barry Martin Brown passed away on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at the age of 67. Barry was born on August 29, 1941 in Toledo, Ohio to Beloit Easton Brown and Frances Hastin Brown. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Lien Brown, two daughters, Beth Haerer(Don) of Dallas, TX and Anne Brown of Sacramento, CA, his stepmother, Mary Ruth Brown of Owensboro, KY, three grandchildren, Catherine Cotton of Dallas and Margaret and Michael Andrew Wilson of Sacramento, his sister, Beverly Brown King(Frank) of Henderson, KY, and two brothers, Randolph Brown and and Daniel Brown, both of CA. He is also survived by a stepdaughter, Catherine Morse(John) of Houston, TX, and stepson Joseph Coniglio(Eva) of Dallas and eight stepgrandchildren. He dearly loved his family and especially cherished time with all of his wonderful grandchildren. Barry graduated from Owensboro High School in Owensboro, KY in 1959. He went on to graduate from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY in 1965 with a double major of math and science as well as a minor in physics. While in the Army he earned a Master of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California in 1971. He honorably served in the United States Armed Forces and served two tours of duty in Viet Nam. Among many military honors, Barry was awarded the Silver Star and two Bronze Service Stars from the United States of America in 1968 for gallantry in action. Barry was most proud to have successfully completed training as a US Army Ranger and to have earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism for his valiant actions at war as a helicopter pilot. After he concluded his distinguished military service, Barrys career as a financial planner was at USPA-IRA (First Command) helping many military personnel provide savings and life insurance for their families. He retired as a Regional Vice-President in 1989. Barrys passions in his retirement were art and sailing. He obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with Highest Honors from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi in 1996. He loved to "play in the clay" as he often said, and was a ceramics instructor at the Art Center of Corpus Christi where he was serving as the President of the Clay Studio Group. He devoted his time and energy to many volunteer activities at the Art Center and was instrumental in the recent expansion of the clay studio at that facility. Sailing was a joyful obsession for Barry. He competitively raced his J105 sailboat "Blue Max" and indicated he would sail "whenever the starting flag goes up on Corpus Christi Bay." He enjoyed sailing with his crew on "Blue Max" in Corpus Christi as well as class-racing in Key West, San Francisco, Chicago and Houston. He was serving as the Vice-Commodore of the Corpus Christi Yacht Club. Barry shared his gifts of tenacity, strength, competitiveness, sensitivity and compassion with all of us. Each of us has learned many lessons from the examples he set for us in his life. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2008 at the Seaside Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Seaside Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made to The Clay Studio at The Art Center of Corpus Christi, 100 Shoreline Drive Corpus Christi, TX 78401 or the charity of your choice.