Mark Brown was born in Trinidad, Colo., in August of 1939 on the eve of World War II. His parents were Louise Macdonald Brown and Paul Mack Brown. As a child he spent the winters in Trinidad and summers in Estes Park, Colo., at his grandmother’s book store.

When asked about his religious preference, Mark often said his mother was an Episcopalian and his father was a golfer. He tried to emulate his father, but with little success, so he chose the alternative and became an Episcopal Priest.

Following his 1969 graduation from Seabury Western Seminary in Chicago, he moved to Ellensburg, Wash., where he served as Campus Minister at Central Washington College, and also served small mission churches in Roslyn and Cle Elum, Wash. It was in Ellensburg he met the love of his life, Effie, to whom he was married for 41 years — the rest of his life.

In 1973, Mark and Effie and her two sons moved to Western Washington. In Seattle, they bought a neighborhood grocery two blocks from their house and two blocks from the Fauntleroy Church, where they worshiped and worked in various capacities for 20 years. Mark said it was an intentional experiment in community. They succeeded in creating a small community environment in the midst of a large city and have maintained strong friendships in that community.

While living in West Seattle, Mark and Effie joined the Chinook Learning Community, now the Whidbey Institute, where they adopted a lifelong commitment to simple living and care of the environment. Mark also managed the St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Stores in Seattle. Following a seven-year period as co-owners of the Shenoa Retreat Center in Northern California, Mark and Effie moved back to Washington in 1991, settling on Whidbey Island, where they have lived ever since.

As a retirement job, Mark worked at the Freeland Ace Hardware store, utilizing his years of retail experience. They also joined and actively served the Whidbey Island Unitarian Universalist Congregation because they found there a loving community of people and a commitment to their belief in simplicity, social justice and environmental concern.

Mark is survived by his wife, Effie, her sons Kent and Jeffrey Bruton, both of the greater Seattle area; his step-daughter, Deborah Daggett of Petrolia, Calif.; his sister, Paula Steige, and nephew Stephen Laing of Estes Park; and his niece Stacia Valley of St. Louis, Mo.

Mark said he’d like to be remembered as one who tried to live his values and was always willing to try new things. A celebration of Mark’s life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 20103 Highway 525, Freeland.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in his honor may be made to the NW Parkinson’s Foundation.