Obituary of Douglas C. Brown

KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC DOUGLAS CHURCHILL BROWN, 74, of Kill Devil Hills, NC, died December 18, 2005 at his home, following a long illness. He was born on June 26, 1931, in Connecticut, but considered eastern Pennsylvania his home. While in high school he fount the beginnings of his life-long career in model-making and furniture design. He crafted a wooden model of the General Motors emblem, an eighteenth century stagecoach. For this design, Douglas was awarded the Fisher Body Craftsman Guild Scholarship. He attended the Rochester Institute of Technology under the scholarship, and earned a degree in Furniture Design and Construction, studying under the noted Danish designer, Tage Frid. Douglas moved to the Outer Banks in 1991. He joined the Outer Banks Presbyterian Church and met Margaret Hunt Davenport while singing in the choir. They were married in 1992. Douglas was the unofficial church craftsman, designing many beautiful and functional wooden works of art for the church. He also was an Elder, served on many committees, and as a Stephen Minister. Not only did Douglas love to design and build, he enjoyed travel, singing, gardening, sailing, and could play a championship game of chess. His warm and loving nature was appreciated by all who knew him. He often put his own projects aside in his workshop to help others repair, reassemble, or fix broken furniture or some other project with which they might be struggling. He was never too busy to lend a hand wherever it was needed. His wife’s grandchildren were very dear to him and were frequent visitors. That is why you’ll see the swing and the huge croquet and badminton area he engineered and built in their yard. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Hunt Brown of the home; his son, Stephen Douglas Brown of Jarvisburg, NC; his sister, Sue Brown Yeaney of Iowa City, IA; several nieces and nephews, and his wife’s four children and nine grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the Outer Banks Presbyterian Church in Kill Devil Hills, NC on January 10, 2006. The family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Outer Banks Presbyterian Church, POB 2199, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948