Mr. Ronald "Ronnie" Brown's Obituary
Ronald “Ronnie” Otho Brown, age 74 of Hermitage, Tennessee passed away on Tuesday January 11, 2022. He was born on October 14, 1947 in Dickson, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his father Otho Brown, wife Carolyn Brown and great-granddaughter Maya Foster. He is survived by his mother Betty Amos, son Matthew (Angela) Brown, daughters Tonia (Christine) Brown and Jennifer (Richard) Reed. Brother Billy Brown and sisters Barbara (Angela) Savage and Kay (Richard) Seiner. Grandchildren Rick Reed, Brittanie Saxon, Jessica (Pablo) Ortega, Kayla Reed. Great-grandchildren Antwain Saxon, Luis Ortega-Rocha, Rosanna Ortega-Rocha, Jaxon Henry, Khari Groves, Gracie Henry, Isabelle Ortega-Rocha and Kneiko.
Ronnie was a loving father, son, brother, and husband. He was also a great friend to many. A proud Mason and Shriner, Ronnie loved nothing more than donning his clown attire and making those of all ages laugh and smile. During his time with the Masons and Shriners, he earned the following accolades: Member of the West Nashville Phoenix Masonic Lodge, Master Mason, Past Master, Funeral Master, Scottish Rite 32nd degree KCCH, Member of the Al Menah Shrine, Clown Unit Captain in 2003 and 2010, Southeastern Shrine Clown Association President 2014, Grand and Glorious Order of the Hillbilly Degree, Member of the Tennessee Squire Association, Graduate of Aquinas College. In his early adulthood he was a member of the Metro Nashville Police Department and later went on to own his own restaurant, City Café, and ended his career as the Catering and General Manager of Jack’s Bar-B-Que on Broadway.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations in Ronnie's memory be made to the Al Menah Shrine Clown Unit or to the Shriner's Hospitals for Children.
A visitation will be held on Thursday January 20 from 4pm-8pm at Spring Hill Funeral Home, with a Masonic Funeral Rite starting at 7pm. A Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held on Friday January 21 at 1pm at the Al Menah Shrine Temple (1354 Brick Church Pike, Nashville, TN 37207) with the family receiving visitors from 10am-1pm. Pastor Keith Pruitt, of Friendship Community Church where Ronnie was a long time member, will officiate. Following the Service will be a procession to Historic Spring Hill Cemetery for burial. Active Pallbearers will include Guy “String Bean” Whitley, Charlie “Hot Rod” Jackson, Greg, “Elmo” Elmore, Geoff “Sticks” King, John Dean and Josh “Flounder” Waynick. Honorary Pallbearers will include all members of the Al Menah Shrine Clown Unit, Rick Henry and Jack Cawthon.
Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery has been entrusted with the final care of Mr. Brown. 5110 Gallatin Pike South, Nashville, Tennessee 37216. (615) 865-1101. “Where Nashville Comes to Remember.”
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