Merton O. Brown

Services with full Tyler Fire Department honors for Merton O. Brown, 75, of Tyler were held Jan. 21 at the Mount Sylvan Baptist Church with the Rev. Robert Davenport officiating.

Burial was in Mount Sylvan Cemetery at a later date under direction of Caudle- Rutledge Funeral Directors, Lindale.

Mr. Brown died Jan. 18, 2008 at a Tyler hospice.

He was born Feb. 25, 1932 in Tyler to the late Edward A. and Myrtle Olive Wright Brown, and was a lifelong resident. He served in the Naval Reserve, was a member of Mount Sylvan Baptist Church, and retired on Jan. 2, 2001 as a battalion chief from the Tyler Fire Department after 48 years, six months and six days of service.

In 2005, the department honored his decades of service with the Legends Award. Capt. Jeff Akin said firefighting was Brown's life.

Brown was preceded in death by nine brothers and sisters.

Survivors include his wife, Anna Brown, Tyler; daughters, Sylvia Brown, Tyler, and Dianna "Ann" Drew, Flint; son, John L. Brown, Tyler; sister, Martha Staples, Whitehouse; nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers were members of the Tyler Fire Department.

If desired, memorials may be made to Legacy Hospice, 120 E. South Town Drive, No. 200, Tyler, 75703; or charity of choice.