Harold Benny Brown, 80, of Andrews, passed away Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in a Murphy care facility.
Benny was born four days after Pearl Harbor in Duncan, S.C., to the late Rev. Harold and Ruby Miller Brown. He was raised in Ellenboro, N.C., in the parsonage of Bethel Baptist Church.
In his younger days, Benny tore up the roads of Rutherford County to find out just how fast that car would go and lived to tell about it. He graduated in 1960 from Ellenboro High School.
In 1963, he married Betty Jo Martin and settled down in Ellenboro, where he worked for Guy Morehead at L&M Recapping. In 1967, their only son, Darryl, was born.
In 1969, Benny decided “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” and became a member of the North Carolina Highway Patrol. He was assigned to Jackson County, where his friends on the Cherokee Reservation named him ”Sugarbear.”
In Cullowhee, he became a member of the Dillsboro Masonic Lodge No. 459 and joined the Scottish Rite. “Sugarbear” became “Sarge” in 1978 and moved to Murphy. He was again promoted in 1987 and moved to McDowell County, where he lived for the remainder of his career.
He was an active member of the Marion Kiwanis Club. He spent his last years near family in Andrews. Though he retired as a Lieutenant, most folks knew him as Sarge or Ben.
Ben was known for his trademark cigar, his love of golf, fishing, a good poker game, and his “cat that ate the canary” grin.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his twin brother, Carol Dean; and his sister, Stella Baber.
Surviving are his wife, Betty Jo; a son, Darryl Brown and daughter-in-law Melissa, and three granddaughters, Olivia, Ariah and Aleah Brown; two sisters, Dot Hyde and Brenda Campbell; a brother, Doug Brown; and three very special friends, Bob Grayson, Max Blanton and Mike Byrd.
No services are planned.
G-539, G-623, G-211, G-132 has checked 10-42, forever.
Ivie Funeral Home, Andrews, is in charge of all arrangements.
An online guest register is available at www.iviefuneralhome.com.