The death of Edward Mayes Brown, age 82, occurred at his residence in Norton, NB, on January 13, 2012. He was born on June 24, 1929, in Springfield, NB, the son of the late Alfred and Marion (Douglas) Brown. Eddie is survived by his sister-in-law Roena Brown; several cousins and many friends. He was predeceased by his brothers Ernest, Harold and Billy; and sister Jennie. He is resting at Sherwood’s Funeral Home and Life Tribute Centre (506-839-2156), 18 Scovil Road, Norton, NB, with visitation from 5 to 8 pm., on Monday, January 16, 2012. A graveside service, conducted by Pastor Wayne Murphy, will be held at Bayview Cemetery, in the spring. Memories of Edward Brown Friend and Neighbor. Ed Brown spent the vast majority of his life in Springfield on the farm with his parents and his siblings. Long after his siblings moved on and his parents passed Ed remained on the farm in Springfield as he cherished his homestead and the friends and neighbors he had come to know during his life time. Ed spent many hours of each day working as a custodian at both the former and present Belleisle High School. Ed was a perfectionist regarding his job and took great pride in the appearance and cleanliness of his school. There would not be a wad of gum left clinging to a desk or chair or a ball of dust hiding in any corner when Ed was finished cleaning; his work ethic was second to none. It was during my first year of teaching at Belleisle that I met Ed. He was the very quiet shy type who put his nose to the grind and rarely stopped to talk. I immediately made befriending this timid soul my new challenge. I would talk to him and make a few jokes at first to win his favor. As time passed Ed warmed up to me and seemed to accept and even enjoy all the teasing and tormenting I would send his way, knowing that it was just my way of showing that I cared about him. Soon Ed started coming to Church Street in Norton to visit the Beckinghams. We were always glad to have him come although Catherine remembers that when she was present, there was little if any eye contact and few words spoken during the first number of visits; Ed was still somewhat bashful and quiet. I suppose our friendship meant a lot to each other because about a decade ago Ed decided to downsize; sell the homestead (a most difficult thing for Ed to do) and move into the bungalow next door to us in Norton. Since then Ed Brown has been the neighbor and friend to us that everyone would love to have. Ed shared in our celebrations throughout the year and helped usher our children into this world and watch them grow as we have. The children have referred to him as another grandfather. Ed attended the Norton United Baptist Church with us during most of his stay in Norton. There would be those special Sundays when Ed would tell our family to drop into his house on our way home from church. When we arrived at his house, Ed had potato scallop, ham, cheese, pickles, rolls and homemade apple pie and ice cream for dessert. Our family loved "Mayor Brown`s" (a nick name Keil and I used for Ed) apple pie! Ed watched our home for us and for numerous winters spent his time filling our wood box so that the stove would be already to light when we arrived home. Oh, it was not an easy task for any one, let a lone for a man his age. He would fill the wheelbarrow with wood from the back of the house, wheel his load to the front of the house and then carry every piece of wood up the steps ranking it in the box until it was piled well over the top. Ed Brown spoiled us and although we advised him against doing this for his health sake, he could not think of any good reason why he should not continue. We were always much amazed and appreciative of Ed`s help. Thank goodness for Ed`s health and our conscience we finally got a pellet stove. To Ed a snow fall meant getting dressed and out the door to keep ahead of what had to be shoveled. Ed was no stranger to hard work and insisted on doing the job himself. Just before his passing on Thursday evening we saw him out shoveling his driveway, Ed would not have had it any other way! Ed could often be found in our yard during the summer months working along side of us with any project we had taken on. Ed helped put our vegetable garden in each year and took the responsibility to not only weed the row he called his own but also the remaining rows. We would often look out the window after supper and see Ed watering the garden; nothing within Ed`s reach was left unattended or unnoticed. For the last 3 consecutive summers you could find Ed working along side of me while I renovated the house inside and out. I really could not have done it without him. Our family will see our good friend Ed for many years to come in the changes we have made in our home. Ed loved wildlife and used to stand on our deck or at the point as we call it to watch for the deer, the family of foxes, the variety of ducks, the eagles and fish hawks. Last year for Ed`s birthday we placed a few Adirondack chairs and a sign that read "Ed`s Place" at the end of the point so Ed could relax, enjoy the scenery, and marvel at the animals God carefully placed in his view just for his pleasure. Ed also demonstrated his affection for squirrels and raccoons when others may have found them to be annoying. Bird feeders usually donned Ed`s window ledge or a nearby tree branch. None of God`s creatures should go hungry and not know that Ed was there to care for them. Ed kept Catherine & I company while we stood on the bank of the river and fished. We will never forget the time we talked Ed into getting into our dingy to venture down the Kennebecasis. Ed seemed to enjoy this adventure but never accepted our invitation to do it again. Ed enjoyed all that the river brought to life and would stand guard on our deck if we were not home during the freshet in the spring making sure that no harm came to anything; our home was his home. He and Catherine would also go berry picking together, enjoying the natural gifts of the Earth was a shared interest of theirs. As Catherine is retiring at the end of January she and Ed had plans to have a biscuit teaching lesson together on Feb.1st, planned since last summer. Every time Catherine would remind Ed of their date with biscuit dough on Feb. 1st, Ed would say, "That`s a long way off yet". They talked of going for strolls together, putting the garden in early and harvesting the goods before the frost so there would be lots of chow chow and pickles for the winter. Ed absolutely loved his pickles; a meal was never complete without them and no one could make chow chow like Ed! I guess we can make all the plans in the world, but in the end it is our creator`s plans that prevail. On several occasions we asked Ed to accompany us on trips but Ed was a home body from the word "go". I guess it was never meant to be. Not far from home Ed would find pleasure meeting with his friends and playing cards or enjoying a church dinner. Home or close to home is where Ed was happiest and felt the most secure. It will be difficult to imagine our lives without Ed. He has come to mean very much to us. For the most part I think Ed lived a satisfying life and it gives us great peace to know he did not suffer before leaving this world. If we all could live to be Ed`s age, have his strength and health, and then slip into the next chapter in "Ed Style", would it not be a wonderful blessing? We will miss Ed very much. It is for selfish reasons (our love for him) that we wanted him to live and thought he would live far into his nineties. But we all know who holds the key to life and death so we know that our beloved friend and neighbor has departed from this world at just the perfect time. Ed you will live long in the hearts of the people who took the time to get to know who you really were. Thank you for being an angel to us while you were here. Your presence and friendship was a gift from God. You will not be forgotten. Written and submitted by Grant and Catherine Beckingham