Oct. 27, 1925 – May 18, 2023

on Thursday, May 18, 2023, in Gans.

He grew up and attended school in Gans. He served as a Naval Seaman First Class from 1943 to 1946. He retired as an upholsterer at Southland Furniture in Fort Smith, Ark. He also upholstered out of his home until 2021. He was of the Assembly of God faith.

Survivors include his children, Joe Gunter (sonin- law), Daryl and Deana Brown, Dennis and John Wigley-Brown, Darla Gragg and Stacy Shelton; and several grandchildren, great-grandkids and greatgreat grandbabies; and other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 74 years, Nina Jean (Crosslin) Brown, in October 2021; a daughter, Diana Lou Gunter; and all of his other siblings.

Pallbearers were Derek Brown, Drayden Brown, Drextyn Brown, Drantly Brown, Blayke Haggard, Steven Gunter, Ty Gunter, Joey Gunter, John Wigley, and Matt Whitekiller.

Honorary pallbearers were the Men of the Gans Bible Church, Butch Acton, Tony Gray, Chris Gray, Matt Corley and Jason Miller.

Gans – Funeral service for James Louis Brown, 97, of Gans, were at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Gans Bible Church.

Burial followed at Gans Cemetery under the direction of Forever Memories Funeral Service of Sallisaw.

Mr. Brown was born on Oct. 27, 1925, in Smithton, Ark., to John Wesley Brown and Mary (Farris) Brown. He died