Terrence Brown

Terrence "Terry" Brown, age 42, of Wildwood, Missouri passed away on Friday, February 18, 2022. He was born in Mississippi on May 28, 1979 to James and Jean Brown (nee Garvin).


Terry was only granted 42 years on this earth, but he did not waste his time given. Terry served nearly 12 years in the United States Air Force as a KC-135 In-Flight Refueling Specialist (Boom Operator). During his service he was stationed at Robins AFB, Altus AFB, and Scott AFB and traveled all over the world. Somehow his picky eating habits stayed at home – he would eat just about anything in a foreign country. He loved to travel and see different parts of the world, but what he cherished most was the friendships he made along the way. Terry left behind a sprawling military family who loved him almost as much as he loved them.


After leaving the Air Force, Terry opted to capitalize on a side of himself he was often too humble to let shine and graduated summa cum laude from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a bachelor's of science in Mechanical Engineering and then earned a master's of science in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis. He became a mechanical engineer for Boeing and worked his dream job in aeronautical research and development. It was not uncommon to find Terry unpretentiously explaining how light works or the details of thermal engineering to someone as if those topics were as ubiquitous as the weather.


Terry went about his life with an infectious zeal. He loved sports – he grew up playing soccer and Saturday and Sunday mornings were not complete without a cup of tea and Premier League soccer on TV. He never gave up on the Atlanta Falcons and despite his reservations about baseball, grew to be a devout St. Louis Cardinals fan. He did, however, always hate basketball.


Star Wars, Legos, and games (all games – video games, board games, card games, and yes, Dungeons & Dragons) took up a permanent residence in Terry's world. He read everything published on Star Wars and had a weekly game night with friends so he could freely nerd out with reckless abandon. As much as he loved gaming of every sort, he also loved being outdoors camping and floating, always amongst his large group of prized friends. The beach was his happy place and Terry and April traveled to Florida frequently. He loved to sit on the beach for hours, listening to the waves and feeling at peace.


Terry was generous with his time and money. Ask any friend of Terry Brown and they will have at least one story of how his intelligence, generosity, and sense of humor helped them. He had the enviable ability to know just what a friend needed at any given time, the ability and willingness to deliver, and a heart big enough to be a best friend to everyone. He was handy and could change brakes in a car, replace plumbing, or build furniture and he did so willingly and often. The only thing he might be remembered for more than his dependable friendship, intelligence, and generosity is his sense of humor. His sense of humor was unparalleled, and he was the true life of any and every party (and not just because he was also the loudest person at the party).


While Terry loved many things in this life, he loved nothing and no one more than his wife April and kids, Lily Ann and Lukas. It was not uncommon for Terry to engage in light saber battles with Lily Ann around the house or to find Terry teaching her soccer skills, including the necessary dramatics to make sure her game was diversified. He was the Saturday morning blueberry waffle maker, the scrambled egg executive chef, and unmatched at the grill. A crawfish boil wasn't a crawfish boil without Terry Brown. For a man who could truly do everything in life, the thing he loved most was being April's devoted husband and Lily Ann and Lukas' adoring father.


Terry is survived by his wife, April Brown; his children, Lily Ann E. and Lukas P. Brown; his parents, James P. and Jean G. Brown; his sister, Lisa L. (Joseph L.) Mull; and his mother-in-law, Susan A. Dicken. He will be dearly missed by many other family members and friends.
Visitation will be from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm with a Celebration of Life to follow at 5:00 pm, both on Friday, March 4, 2022 at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions, West County Chapel, 2211 Clarkson Rd, Chesterfield, Missouri 63017.


A benefit fund has been established for Terry's family. If you would like to donate, please mail checks to:
Lily Ann and Lukas Brown Benefit Fund
C/O Peoples Savings Bank
5000 WingHaven Blvd
O'Fallon, MO 63368

Funds can also be donated electronically via Venmo:
@April-Brown-16.
Please choose personal transfer and use 8705 for last 4 digit phone number verification.

To share a memory of Terry or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.