George "Spike" R Brown

Spike Brown, Henrieville, Utah

        George “Spike” Brown, also known by those who called him friend as “The Pepsi Man”, was called home to Heaven on January 21, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer. Family and friends can testify that every life he touched, he left a little better and a little brighter. No one, not one single soul would want for comfort, acceptance, or belonging, if he was around. He always had time for everyone. He was always genuine because he genuinely cared for all. He had a way of always making you feel heard and loved. He wasn’t sophisticated, but he could assess the worth of  someone or something long before anyone said a word. He simply fiercely loved. 

    Spike was born on October 1, 1940, to Justapearl and George R. Brown, Sr., in Bell, California. His early life began in the time of the World War II era, where his dad would go to work at the Douglas Plant making airplanes, and his mother was appointed to air raid warden for their neighborhood. Due to the tumultuous times, and shifting job market, they moved around a lot in his early childhood. Spike had to grow up and matured fast, since he was the eldest of all his siblings. He graduated in 1959 from Excelsior High School, in Norwalk, California, where he excelled and lettered in Varsity gymnastics. His school later became popular when a little movie called “Grease” was filmed there. He joined the Navy, shortly after graduating and was stationed at Barbers Point, Hawaii, where he stayed for 3 years before returning home. 

    In the summer of 1971, after a game of golf at Black Lake Country Club, he met a waitress at the club, who knocked him off his feet, but kept refusing to go out with him, so he kept coming back for more golf (maybe that is why he loved golf so much). Finally, Cecelia Marie Kangas agreed to go out with him, and in the fall of 1972, she became his beautiful bride and would remain his wife and best friend of 50 years. 

    He began his work career with Pepsi Cola in 1971, then in 1978 after speaking to a longtime childhood friend, he was invited to come visit him in Cedar City to visit and catch up on life. Spike and Tootie fell in love with the area and quickly moved their family out of California in 1979, to Henrieville. Spike continued working for Pepsi, and would spend over 30 plus years as the Pepsi Man. He remained in Henrieville serving as the Pepsi Man making lifelong friends all over several counties and retired from Pepsi in 2000. 

    His retirement didn’t last long as he quickly began work at Bryce Canyon National Park on the roads and trails crew for approximately two years, that is until he found a new love with the park’s seasonal bus service. There he remained working every season, even through his cancer treatments. He absolutely loved sharing Bryce and his time with all he met, but especially with his people at Red Canyon Transit. 

    He was an avid outdoorsman, and had a great love for nature, hunting, fishing, and camping with family. His love of family transcended it all and was always his top priority, if it was important to his seven year old grandson, then it was important to him. He shared his family adventures and his love for them with everyone that crossed his path. 

    Spike is survived by his wife Tootie Brown; daughter, Christina (Jim) McCumber; son, Jon-Glen (Lauren) Brown; grandchildren: Quintin, Aiden, Averie, Scarlett, Savannah, and Remington; and siblings: John Brown and Molly Myers. 

    His family would like to give a very heartfelt thanks Dr. Marshall and all the staff at Garfield Memorial Hospital, as well as Dr. Bryce Perkins and staff at the IHC Cancer Center in Cedar City. 

    A Celebration of the life with military honors for Spike will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 12:00 Noon in the Henrieville Ward Chapel. Cremation at the Magleby Mortuary Cremation Center. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com 

    In lieu of flowers, his family has asked that you please make a donation in Spike’s honor, (please include his name) to the BRCA for the Junior Ranger Program. Donations can be made at the following link: https://www.nps.gov/brca/getinvolved/donate.htm