Travis Milton “Paw Paw” Brown

Travis Milton “Paw Paw” Brown, 87, of Beaumont, died Friday, October 13, 2017, peacefully at home. He was born on February 19, 1930 to Mollie Langley Brown and Ezra Elisha Brown in Winn Parish, Louisiana.

Travis graduated from Urania High School in 1947. He began his collegiate studies at Northeast Junior College of Louisiana State University. During a break from college, while working as a roughneck in the Southwest Louisiana oilfields, Travis began a courtship that would endure for over 68 years. This was when he met the love of his life, the beautiful Mary Lorraine Wallace of Jennings, Louisiana. Inspired by the prospects of marriage, the young couple charted a course he referred to as “LoLo’s Plan.” It was according to the Plan that Travis return to complete his college education at Louisiana State University. In 1953, Travis earned a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering, accepted his first engineering position with The Texas Company at Orangefield, Texas, and on April 4 of that same year, Travis Brown married Lorraine Wallace at First Baptist Church of Jennings, Louisiana.  

Mr. Brown’s career with Texaco was interrupted by a Commission in the US Air Force and the newlyweds were soon living with Strategic Air Command at Mountain Home, Idaho. Their first son, Bertron Travis was born there on December 31, 1954. Following the Korean War, the Brown Family returned to the oilfields of Texas to resume Travis’ career with Texaco. Travis and Lorraine’s second son, Barton Douglas, was born on March 29, 1956, and their third son, Bradley Dare on May 21, 1958, while the Browns were living in Alvin. Bruce Wallace, their fourth son was born on September 9, 1961, soon after their transfer to El Campo. The Brown Family moved to Beaumont in 1971, when Travis accepted an engineering position as Production Supervisor of Southeast Texas Region, responsible for fields from Orange County to Harris County. In 1980, Travis and Lorraine were posted to Sumatra, Indonesia by Caltex and spent eight adventurous years expatriate before moving back to the States, where he then retired from Texaco.

Travis was a Company Man who worked for one Corporation during his entire 35-year career. He was respected as a practical man who believed that the simple solution was usually best. Travis believed that a handshake communicated from the heart, and that men should be plain spoken. He had an abiding faith that hard work and perseverance would pay off. Travis and Lorraine worked in unison. He always credited their achievements to Lorraine, and took personal responsibility for their shortcomings as directly as possible.

Travis and Lorraine gave priority to church life wherever they lived. They were members at First Baptist Church of Alvin, First Baptist Church of El Campo, and when moving to Beaumont they joined the closest church to their house, Westgate Memorial Baptist Church, which Travis loved dearly. Travis followed the Lord’s direction as he served in leadership roles as Deacon and Sunday School Teacher. He traveled to Russia on mission in 1998, visiting the villages in Asmolov, Kapustichi, and Rylsk. Travis caught a glimpse of God’s work through Pastor Victor and Natasha Fedosihkin, and chose to support them personally and through Westgate Memorial Baptist Church from that day until now.

Travis lived Malachi 3:10. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” Travis wrote the tithe before he paid the bills. In later years, he cried when he spoke of the Blessings which the Lord had let him see.

He had profound assurance in God’s Power to Save in this world and the next.   He prayed in the King James Version, Revised.

Travis and Lorraine Brown were married 63 years before Lorraine’s death, February 18, 2017.

Survivors include sons, Dr. Bert Brown and his wife, Lyn, of Beaumont, Bart Brown and his wife, Helen, of Bay City, Brad Brown and his wife, Debbie, of Beaumont, and Dr. Bruce Brown and his wife, Nancy, of Meridian, Mississippi; sister, Bennie Mae Crouch, of Lafayette, Louisiana; nephews, Leonard Brown and Jack Dendy; nieces, Janet Prather, Molly Dendy, Denise Gulatt, and Lisa Spann. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and brothers, Douglas E. Brown and Ira L. Brown; and granddaughter, Ashley Brown.

Travis’ 13 grandchildren called him Paw Paw:

By Bertron there are Bethany, Blake, and Blaire

By Barton there are Jordan, Andrew, Trevor, and Camryn

By Bradley there are Austin (Samantha), Ashley, and Aaron

By Bruce there are Benjamin (Allison), Rebecca, and Elizabeth

Travis’ Great-grandchildren are:

By Bethany Way (Lance) there are Logan, Ivy, Hudson, and Owen

By Blake (Robyn) there is Beau

By Blaire Ritz (David) there are Reagan and Riley

By Andrew (Jennifer) there is Elliott

By Trevor (Hannah) there is Rowan

By Rebecca Strickland (Clay) there are Garrett, Abigail, Lydia, and Eli

By Elizabeth Glosson (Jeremy) there are Jacob, Caleb, and David

A gathering of Mr. Brown’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 17, 2017, at Westgate Memorial Baptist Church, 6220 Westgate Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 18, 2017, at Westgate Memorial Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.

Memorial contributions may be made to the World Missions Fund of Westgate Memorial Baptist Church, 6220 Westgate Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77706.