My husband, Frederick D. Brown, passed away at our winter home in Yuma, Ariz. on Nov. 3, 2008 as a result of prostrate cancer. He is now golfing with the big guys.

Frederick was born to Hattie Brown July 28, 1940 in Washington, D.C. He retired after 22 years in the Navy, many years at Crowley Maritime and 15 years on the Washington State Ferries. You will probably remember him from the Clinton-Mukilteo run. We lived in Clinton for 31 years.

He leaves behind his wife, myself Kristi, our daughter Stephanie and husband Rickey, our son Kevin and wife Karlene, our grandchildren, Avery, Jay, Larissa, Isaac and Cameron and his father and mother-in-law Ken and Leona. He is also survived by his Aunt Jackie, sisters Charlene and Lugene, brothers Charles, Larry and David, his brother and sister-in-laws, many nieces, nephews, cousins from all over the country and many, many friends.

This has always been my favorite poem and best describes my husband in my eyes.

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

Where the race of men go by-

The men who are good and the men who are bad,

As good and as bad as I.

I would not sit in the scorner’s seat

Or hurl the cynic’s ban-

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man

I see from my house by the side of the road

By the side of the Highway of Life,

The men who press with the ardor of hope,

The men who are faint with the strife,

But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears,

Both parts of an infinite plan –

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

I miss you so much Fred.

Thank you family, friends and hospice for all your support.