Billy Brown

Billy Joe Brown, of Indianapolis, died peacefully on December 22, 2024, in his home at the age of 86. He was born on January 29, 1938, to the late Charles Brown and Mary Brown (Knapp), in Evansville, IN. Billy is preceded in death by his sisters; Ginny Barnette, Linda Madalena, Patricia Owens and his brother; Charles (Shorty) Brown. 

At the age of 14, Billy decided he wanted to see America, so he did just that. With his thumb in the air, he started hitch hiking across the United States until he made his way over to California. Meeting many new people along the way. Occasionally stopping long enough to work a few jobs and scrape up the money to get to the next town. Each town that came and went was just another chapter in his incredible journey through life. 

He started out his storied career, building houses in his youth. He could do it all from electrical to plumbing. There wasn't much that he couldn't do. Some might say he was a jack of all trades. After building houses he then went to driving tractor trailers and dump trucks before landing a job working for Whirlpool and eventually moving to Indianapolis to be a foreman at International Harvester, where for the next nine and a half years he would call home. That is until what he thought would be a better opportunity came knocking at his door. That's when he decided to move once more to Kentucky to start a Double Cola company but after suffering a stroke that required brain surgery, the company failed and he moved back to Indy to work at Liberty Bell Carpet with his best friend Steve, installing carpet and hardwood flooring.

 Besides working diligently to provide for his family; Billy had a passion for riding Harley Davidson motorcycles. Nothing else in the entire world other than family could bring him the kind of happiness and joy he felt while riding. He did so until his early 80's when he gracefully decided it was time to hang up his boots so to speak. For those who didn't know him, he wasn't one to shy away from an adventure if one could be found. Which is why he was always busy doing something. When he wasn't out riding his motorcycle, he could be found behind the smoke-filled air of a charcoal grill, or beer in his hand casting a line out on the lake on a hot summer day. As long as he was around family and friends, it didn't matter much what he was doing or where he was at. 

There really are few words to describe a man who lived such an extraordinary life. He was no doubt, one of the kindest people you will ever meet and he will be greatly missed. As we say our final goodbyes to Billy here on this earth, we won't be sad but we will rejoice knowing that we will be together again one day. Though he is gone from his physical body, his spirit lives on inside each and every one of the lives he has touched along the way. Leaving behind a legacy that will surely be remembered for generations to come. 

He is survived by his daughters; Rita Brown, Christina Goff (Robert Cooke), son; Jonathan Brown (Amber), 6 grandchildren; Ted Hyatt (Rachel), Sierra Hyatt-Malawi (Ehab), Christina Hyatt, Cody Goff, Kasie Kissick, Carissa Cooke, 2 great - grandchildren; Tevin Hyatt and Felix Hyatt-Gonzalez and another great-grandchild on the way.

 A celebration of life will be held privately at a later date.