Ronald Lewis Brown

Ronald Lewis Brown, 60, of Lake Lotawana, MO, passed away peacefully at home on June 21, 2017 from a pulmonary embolism. He was born on Nov. 28, 1956, in Santa Monica, CA. The family moved to Lake Lotawana when Ron was 12 and he lived there until moving to El Dorado Springs and then to Enid, OK. He returned to the Kansas City area in the mid 1980s. He and Joan were united in marriage on Aug. 25, 1990.

Ron started his working career early on mowing lawns at Lake Lotawana. He worked as a manager for McDonalds for several years before working as a painter and doing drywall work. He then worked for several delivery businesses and was a driver for FedEx Office for the last 14 years.

Ron was preceded in death by his father, Ronald Jack Brown; father- and mother-in-law, Bill and Virginia Ketter; sister-in-law Barbara Ketter, brother-in-law Dick Messbarger; grandparents Clyde Brown and Edie Rowland; and Ann and Clint (Smitty) Smith; Uncle Howard Smith; and Uncle Ken Brown.

Survivors include his loving wife, Joan Ketter Brown, of Lake Lotawana; mother, Alma Brown, of Lee’s Summit; sister and brother-in-law, Rhonda and Brad Mathews, of Greenwood; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Carolyn Messbager of Vadnais Heights, M, Dave and Jean Ketter of Grinnell, IA, Judy and Dan Morr of Denver, CO, and Jim and Ann Ketter of Albany, OR; 17 nephews and nieces, as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins, and many friends.

Ron felt very lucky to have grown up at Lake Lotawana and returned there when he and Joan bought a home in S Block in 1993. Ron loved his home and his neighbors. He was always ready to travel; his favorite activity away from home was floating down a Missouri river in his kayak and camping alongside the river. He loved to sample craft beers and kept an extensive list of all that he had tried.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Lake Lotawana Community Club, 1 Lake Lotawana Road, Lake Lotawana, MO (inside Gate #1) on Saturday, July 8, from 1-4pm. Per Ron’s wishes, guests are encouraged to dress informally.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Ron’s name to the Missouri State Park System, or to the environmental agency of your choice.