William Brown

William “Bill” Orville Brown of Waco, passed away on October 31, 2023, at Mercy House Waco surrounded by his family. Visitation will be 5pm to 7pm at Oakcrest Funeral Home on November 7th. Rosary will be recited there at 6 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2pm on November 8th at St. Louis Catholic Church in Waco with Father Ryan Higdon officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.

One of ten children, Bill was born December 5, 1928, in Nashville, Tennessee to Hal Douglas and Claribel Collins Brown. Soon after his birth, his parents relocated the family to Waco. Bill attended Waco schools and served in the Army as Sergeant First Class in Korea.

On June 26, 1951, he married Bettie Jo Williams and they had four children together. Bill loved to fish and camp. He was in scouting for many years, serving as Scoutmaster for the St. Louis Catholic Church Troop 326 for 15 years. After a battle with cancer, his beloved Bettie passed away in 1982.

Bill was in the electrical supply business for 40 years. He retired from Dealers Electric in 1992. It was through his job that he met his current wife, Jeanette Rosalie Anders. They married on August 18, 1984, and Bill welcomed her daughter, Kelley as part of the family. Bill was a loving husband, father, and "PawPaw" to his grandkids. He loved keeping his yard on Turtle Creek Road well-manicured.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Douglas, Virginia, Dorothy Bowen Crabb, Frederick, Barbara Hitt, Gerry Thompson, Bland, Patsy Barfield, and Martha Dudek; Bill’s first wife, Bettie; daughter, Becky Burgin; son, Brad; and granddaughters, Ashley and Heather Burgin.

Survivors include his dear wife, Jeanette; children and spouses, Bob and Debbi Brown, Barry Brown and Tricia Janes, and Kelley and Jason Jakubik; daughter-in-law, Shirley Brown; grandchildren, Jeff Brown, David Brown, Jesse Brown, Jackson, Luke and Caroline Jakubik; great-grandchildren, Bridget, Brooklyn, Blakely and Beau Brown; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pall bearers include David Brown, Tony Castillo, John Dudek, Paul Brown, Alan Hitt, Bland Brown. Honorary pall bearers are Jason Jakubik and Jeff Brown.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff of Mercy House for providing such excellent care and friendship.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mercy House, 4308 N 19th St, Waco, TX 76708