Johnny Milton Brown

Johnny Milton Brown, 88, of Blountville, passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2024.

He was born in Lexington, North Carolina on July 9, 1936. He proudly served in the United States Army (Artillery) from 1954 to 1957 and then attended college, a graduate from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in Ceramic Engineering in 1964.

Johnny worked for General Shale Brick for 38 years before retiring in 2002. His career with General Shale Brick began as a trainee at the Kingsport Plant in 1964, where he remained in supervisory positions until 1967. In 1967, he transferred to the Knoxville Plant as Assistant Superintendent and, in 1968, became Plant Superintendent. In 1971, he transferred to the Research Laboratory in Kingsport as a Research Engineer and was elevated to Manager of Process Research in 1978. While at General Shale, he helped develop a unique brick-making process, and at the time of his retirement, he was one of four people in America who had his level of experience with the process. After retirement, Johnny started his own consulting business, BMAC (Brick Manufacturing Advisory Consultant), which was very successful. Johnny's favorite quote from Joe DiMaggio was, "He was rather splendid in his line of work."

Being the youngest in his family, Johnny was preceded in death by his parents, James Vivian Brown and Catherine Elizabeth (Meyssen) Brown; and all of his siblings, Hubertina "Tina" Weaver, Helen Fritts, James "Buddy Boy" Brown, Martha Fox, Mary Vivian Rimer, Berniece Brinkly-Barnes, Henry "Hank" Mason Brown, Jessie Louise Bass, and Edmond Brown.

Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Iris Brown; daughter, Tina Taylor and husband, Richard; daughter, Elizabeth Justice and husband, Charles; daughter, Heather Corrigan and husband, Jim; grandchildren, Lindsey Taylor, Erin Taylor, Tyler Justice, Kyle Justice, and Lila Corrigan; and great-grandchildren, Hallie Justice, Sawyer Justice, and Charlotte Justice.

His beloved family and friends share a final thank you:

"Thank you for having the confidence in us to leave us in complete control of our affairs - sparing us the demeaning experience of having to answer to someone in all matters and giving us the freedom to make choices...right or wrong. You provided well for those you love but left us free. We love you...and thank you for that too!"

Johnny's wishes were to be cremated, but a final "thanks" from the entire family to the nurses and staff at NHC Kingsport, especially to Stephanie "Cornbread" and Tricia "Blue Eyes"; and to dear family friends, Wayne and Nita Morgan.

A Funeral Mass for the family will be held at St. Dominic's Catholic Church, 2517 N John B Dennis Hwy, Kingsport, TN 37660, on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

For family and friends unable to attend Mass at St. Dominic's, please join us for a Celebration of Life Service at Cassidy Methodist Church, 5801 Memorial Blvd, Kingsport, TN 37664, at 3:00 p.m., also on Saturday, January 25, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions in Johnny's name to the Alzheimer's Association by visiting http://www.alz.org.