Michael "Mike" Robert Brown, Jr., USMC (Ret.), 60, of Pensacola, FL, passed away on Thursday, October 28, 2021.

Mike was born on June 3, 1961 at Balboa Naval Hospital, in San Diego, CA. Mike graduated from Regis High School in Denver, CO. He was a graduate of New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, NM and Metropolitan State University in Denver, CO. Mike was an avid sportsman throughout his life. He played football in high school, and was awarded a college football scholarship to New Mexico Military Institute. He also boxed in college and learned the sport of rugby, where he eventually was selected to play on the Military Combined Service team.

Mike honorably served 26 years in the United States Marine Corps as a CH-53D helicopter pilot and a flight instructor. He retired as a Major in 2007. Mike enjoyed a retail management career after his military retirement. Most recently, he was employed at TJ Maxx in Pensacola, FL. Mike enjoyed giving back and did so freely. He knew the names of several homeless citizens in the area, and would pray with them and help them often. He was involved in his church, neighborhood, the community and the city of Pensacola, where he coached youth soccer.

Mike will be remembered as a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, Godfather and friend to many. He was the oldest of eight children. Mike was a devout Catholic who loved and lived his faith.

Mike is preceded in death by his father, Michael R. Brown, Sr., and brother, Robert E. Brown, US Navy Master Chief (Ret.).

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jo Elizabeth "Jo Beth" Brown; sons, Maximilian "Max" and Dominic Brown, of Pensacola, FL; daughters, Katherine Acevedo (Ivan) of Long Beach, CA, Mary Elizabeth and Grace Brown of Pensacola, FL; his mother, Judith Ann Brown of San Antonio, TX; brothers, Thomas Brown (Denise) of Niles, MI, Michael Joseph Brown (Christina) of Irvine, CA, and Gregory Brown of Frisco, TX; a brother-in-law, James Jones of Charleston, WV; sisters, Mary Borgia (Mike) of San Antonio, TX, Carmen Drevescraft (John) of Arvada, CO, and Bernadette Burgon (EJ) of Arvada, CO; sisters-in-law, Lisa Brown of Memphis, TN, Jayme Canterbury (Frank) of South Charleston, WV, and Jann Weedy (Mick) of Dunbar, WV; aunts and uncles, Aunt Suanne Garioto (Bob) of Green Valley, AZ, Uncle Ken Woodring (Kaye) of Mason, MI, and Uncle Greg Woodring of Muskegon, MI; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends also survive.

The family will pray a Rosary Service at 4:30pm on Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel. They will receive friends following the rosary until 7:00pm.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11:00am Thursday, November 4, 2021 at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, with Fr. Jack Campbell and Fr. James Valenzuela, as celebrants. Interment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery, with military honors being accorded by the United States Marine Corps.

Active Pallbearers will be, Tom Brown, Gregory Brown, Mike Borgia, Mark Meloro, Mark Murray, Dr. Carlos Vera, Kent Varney, and Sir Thomas Raines.

Honorary Pallbearers, will be friends and family who served in our armed forces.

The Patriot Guard Riders will assist police in procession to the cemetery.

The family has chosen The Marine Corps League, for memorial contributions, in the honor of Major Michael R. Brown, Jr., USMC, (Ret.):

Cpl J.R. Spears det 066

Marine Corps League

P.O. Box 3491

Milton, FL 32572

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers, for Mike and our family over the past 2 months.

Special thanks to: Fr. Paul Czerwonka, Fr. Thomas Koyickal, Fr. Michael Garvey, Fr. Jack Campbell, Fr. James Valenzuela, Fr. Peter McLaughlin, and the Patriot Guard Riders.