Clyde Merle Brown

Clyde Merle Brown, age 65, passed away surrounded by his loving family on November 5, 2021. Clyde was born on July 29, 1956 in Pomona, CA to Claude and Margaret (Barnes) Brown.

The son of a pastor, Clyde and his 9 siblings grew up moving around Oregon, Washington, and Idaho as their father established churches. Clyde was involved in high school sports, with his Colfax football team winning the state championship his sophomore year. He would go on to graduate from high school in Mountain Home, Idaho and then attended Western Baptist College, where he would meet his future bride, Diana House. After a year of college Clyde and Diana were wed on October 9, 1976 and returned to Mountain Home to begin working with his father and brother at Brown and Son's Dairy.

While Clyde's coaching career unofficially began at the age of 6, coaching the neighborhood kids, his official career would begin when he returned to college to finish his Bachelor's degree. While he attended Oregon College of Education Clyde became the men's basketball coach at Cascade High School in Turner, OR. He went on to coach men's basketball at several area high schools and even returned to Western Baptist College as the assistant men's basketball coach. Clyde was extremely passionate about sports, whether he was playing, coaching, or watching, and when he and Diana relocated to Colville in 1992 to help care for her uncle, he founded several traveling teams from Colville to Spokane, including Colville's first traveling team, the Panorama Power, and Spokane's River City Rivals, who he would take to the national championships in Chattanooga, TN. Clyde also coached several of the Colville middle school teams including softball, basketball, and volleyball. Clyde coached the Colville high school softball team for many years and established the foundation of a successful program that continues today. Even as health issues slowed him down, Clyde transitioned to coaching tee-ball, his grandson's football team, and his granddaughter's travel softball team until he completely retired in 2020.

Clyde worked in Colville schools for many years first as a substitute teacher and then in the resource room at the junior high school. He then joined Rural Resources where he worked until 2020. He enjoyed the time he spent there and the relationships formed with his co-workers.

Clyde was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Margaret Barnes; his brother, Claude Jr .; and an infant son, Joshua.

He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Diana Brown; his children, Heather, Tarrah, Brooke, and Trevor; his thirteen grandchildren; and eight siblings.

The funeral services for Clyde Brown were held on Saturday, November 20, 2021 in Kettle Falls, Washignton. Please visit the online memorial and sign his guestbook at http://www.danekasfuneralchapel.com. Danekas Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with his care.