Dr. D. Wayne Brown, Jr., 53, passed away peacefully at home Thursday, April 19, 2007 from fungal pneumonia. Wayne was born December 9, 1953 in Fredericksburg, Texas, to Iris Imogene Hill and Rev. Darwin Wayne Brown, Sr.
He moved to Graham, Texas in 1956 at the age of three. He graduated from Graham High School, with honors, in 1972. In 1976, he graduated summa cum laude from Howard Payne University, Brownwood, Texas with a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Psychology. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a Master's Degree in 1978 and a Doctorate in Sociology and Statistics in 1984.
Wayne was married in the Mesa, Arizona LDS Temple July 27, 1976 to Cheryl Lee Lankford. They were blessed with two children, Nathaniel Wayne Brown born October 8, 1978 and Matthew Whitman Brown born December 17, 1986.
At the age of 17, Wayne was the youngest ordained pastor in the Southern Baptist Convention in the State of Texas. He ministered to a small congregation in South Bend, Texas and served there four years.
Wayne joined the LDS Church in August of 1974. He moved to Utah after his marriage in 1976. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1982. He had lung surgery in 1997. He battled several bouts of pneumonia and finally succumbed to fungal pneumonia after a brave and valiant fight.
Wayne worked as a research analyst for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Research/Correlation Division for 20 years. He was an adjunct professor of Sociology and Statistics at BYU/Salt Lake City, University of Phoenix in Salt Lake City, and Utah Valley State College in Orem, Utah.
Wayne was a beloved husband, father, son and brother, and avid reader, history buff, scriptorian and devoted Dallas Cowboy fan. He will always be remembered as "the little Texan with a big heart."
Wayne is survived by his wife, Cheryl, two sons, Nate and Matt of American Fork, Utah, his mother, Imogene Brow, and his sister, Belle Nichols, both of Graham, Texas. He is preceded in death by his father, Rev. Darwin Brown, of Graham, Texas, and his brother-in-law, Patrick Nichols, of San Antonio, Texas.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 28th at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS Church at 507 West 700 North, American Fork, Utah under the direction of SereniCare Funeral Directors There will be a viewing at the church Friday April 27th from 6 - 8 p.m. and Saturday, April 28th from 10:00 - 10:30 a.m. Special thanks to the IHC Hospice staff in Utah County. Interment at the American Fork Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the D. Wayne Brown Family Trust at Far West Bank in Provo.