Michael Donaldson Brown

Michael Donaldson Brown

1955 – 2022

Farmington, UT – Michael Donaldson Brown, age 67, passed away on April 9, 2022 after a heroic battle with pancreatic cancer. Michael was born January 13, 1955 in Ogden. He was the fourth of six children born to Ruth Donaldson Brown & Loa Virgil Brown. They raised their family in South Ogden. Ruth & Loa instilled a strong love of learning, higher education, family, service, and hard work into their children.

Michael attended Bonneville High School where he met and fell in love with Jan Hendricks. She was his high school sweetheart and they were together for 50 years. He played high school basketball and football and served as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Sydney, Australia mission under President Earl C. Tingey.

After returning home from his mission, Michael and Jan were sealed for time and all eternity in the Ogden Utah Temple on September 18, 1976.

Michael began studies at Weber State College and played as a forward for the basketball team with Coach McCarthy while completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology.

After his undergraduate work, Michael completed his doctorate degree at Pacific University in Oregon and became a private practice Optometrist in the Salt Lake valley. He loved his patients and cared deeply for their well-being, providing excellent eye care for 38 years. Together Michael and Jan worked to build his private practice, Mountain West Eyecare and was proud to turn the reins over to his youngest daughter, Bethany Gillett in May 2020, once she graduated as an Optometrist from the same university he had attended.

Michael and Jan started their family early and lost their first son, Benjamin Michael shortly after his birth. Five years later they welcomed their first daughter Brittany and then Brennen, Bryce and Bethany into the family. They raised their 4 children in Bountiful and as empty nesters moved to Farmington to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They enjoyed serving together as temple workers in the Bountiful Temple. Michael also served in as a counselor in the bishopric, several times as a young men’s leader, nursery leader, gospel doctrine teacher and temple worker.

Throughout his life he was very active in sports and was a great outdoorsman. He loved to be in nature and enjoyed spending time with his family at “Papa’s Forest” – the family’s property in the beautiful Uinta Mountains. His favorite vacations were spent at a lake boating with his family. Michael and Jan opened their home to family, friends, and strangers. All were welcomed in the Brown home and Michael loved to “hang out” with whomever was around. He wanted everyone to feel loved and accepted. He was slow to judge others and quick to give and share his resources, time, and talents. He truly understood the power of reaching out to the one. He put his dear wife, his family, and the gospel of Jesus Christ at the center of his life.

Michael is survived by wife Jan; daughters Brittany (Spencer) Walker and Bethany (Colton) Gillett; sons Brennen (Jocelyn) Brown and Bryce (Allyson) Brown; 11 grandchildren with 1 grandson due May 2022; and siblings Loy (Luann) Brown, Michelle (Steve) Barker, Stacey (Walt) Gilmore, and Carol (Curtis) Tanner. Michael is preceded in death by his infant son Benjamin Michael, his sister Robin, his parents, and brother-in-law Jeff Cazier.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00a.m., Saturday April 16, 2022, at the Farmington Bay Stake Center, 549 S. 1525 W., Farmington, UT 84025.

Friends and family may visit Friday April 15, 2022, between 6p.m. and 8p.m., at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 1941 N. Main, Farmington, or Saturday 10:00a.m. to 10:45a.m., at the Stake Center.

Interment to follow at the Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Boulevard, South Ogden, Utah 84403

For those wishing to attend virtually, the service will be streamed live at 11:00 am on Russon Mortuary and Crematory Facebook Page using the following link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/russonmortuary/

Services will also be streamed under this obituary beginning at 11:00 am on Saturday.