Eric Brown Sr.

November 15, 1955 - July 6, 2021

Eric Mark Anthony Brown, known as “Ricky” to his siblings and extended family, began his eternal life on July 6, 2021. He was born November 15, 1955, the son of Joseph and Bessie Fizer Brown. He was raised in Topeka where he attended Monroe Elementary, Crane Jr. High and Topeka High schools and continued his education at Washburn University. Eric worked for the Topeka Public Schools before accepting a position as a nursing assistant at Aldersgate Village where he worked until his health failed. Eric professed Christ early in life and was baptized by Rev. Dr. W.L. Templeton at the Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. He was a gifted artist in oil paintings. He loved to paint and he recently expanded his artistic talent to include graphic arts. When Eric was growing up he was good at telling scary stories. He liked sci-fi, westerns and suspense shows. On the day of the 1966 tornado, he was watching the sci-fi show, Lost in Space, and was not at all happy when the show was interrupted because of the tornado. When it came to school, he was particular about his looks. On the occasions when he got a haircut from Mr. Jelly Fox that he was not pleased with, he seemed to always find a way not to go to school the next day. Eric, as a young adult, married his sweetheart, Paula Jones. They divorced and later reunited until death did they part. Our hearts are heavy and Ricky will be greatly missed. Eric was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Brown, his sister, Marcella Brown Robinson, stepfather, Artis Spivey Sr., his maternal grandparents, Orville Sr. and Mary A. Jordan Fizer and paternal grandparents, Emery and Nellie Brown. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Paula Jones Brown of Colorado Springs CO; sons, Eric Brown, Jr. of Colorado Springs CO and Landon Brown of Topeka KS; one daughter, Tazzara (Euzell Jr.) Ball of Topeka KS; 13 grandchildren. His mother, Bessie Butts-Spivey of Topeka KS; brothers, Michael (Juanita) Brown of Topeka KS, Wallace (Rosemary) Butts of Kansas City MO, Sebastian (Mary) Brown and Sheldon Brown of California; sisters, Corliss (John) Williams, Victoria (Anthony) Garvin of Topeka KS, Teresa (Christopher) Crandall of Kansas City MO and Mary (Timothy) Butts-Sims, Jan Brown, and Zeva Brown of California. Step-siblings, Brenda (James) Kirtdoll, Linda Spivey, Ricardo Spivey of Topeka KS, Eddie Prudhomme of Louisiana; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Eric’s family will greet friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, July 22, at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614. Graveside service will be Friday, July 23, 11 a.m. in West Lawn Memorial Gardens, I-70 and Auburn Road. Memorial contributions may be made to Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent online to www.kevinbrennanfamily.com.