Gary Mack Brown

Funeral services for Gary Mack Brown, 67, will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. at Cypress Baptist Church, 4701 Palmetto Rd., Benton, Louisiana. A visitation will be held Friday, February 23, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Dr., Bossier City, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Reverend Tommy Patton.

Gary was born on October 28, 1956 to Edwin Odean Brown and Nila Mae Barclay Brown in Austin, Texas and passed away after a lengthy battle with muscular dystrophy, Thursday, February 15, 2024 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He is now in the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Gary was saved in 1965, at the age of nine, at the Anderson Lane Baptist Church in Austin, Texas.

Gary’s journey as an expert carpenter began during his high school years when he crafted his first wooden stool, a creation cherished by his mother to this day. His talent and love for carpentry led him to build custom homes in Austin after college. Subsequently, Gary embarked on a fulfilling career as a Consultant Forester at Muslow Forestry in the Shreveport area for two decades. Alongside his forestry work, Gary utilized his carpentry skills in renovating houses and managing rental properties with precision and dedication.

A graduate of Jacksonville Baptist College and Stephen F. Austin State University, Gary earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry from Stephen F. Austin. It was during his time at college that he met his beloved wife, Stacy, at College Heights Baptist Church, with whom he shared nearly four decades of marriage filled with love and companionship.

Gary was renowned for his strong work ethic and deep devotion to his family. A proud father to Mack and Bridget, he wholeheartedly supported their interests and sporting endeavors with unwavering encouragement and involvement. Gary's commitment to family extended beyond sports; he ensured they had the tools they needed while always being their most enthusiastic cheerleader.

Outside of work and family, Gary found joy in various hobbies such as hunting, fishing, weightlifting, and skiing- both on water and snow – as well as working on muscle cars like his ’65 VW Beetle and ‘68 Z-28 Camero. He possessed a sense of adventure instilled by his parents’ love for camping trips across the U.S., seeking thrills through activities like whitewater rafting in Germany and zip-lining in California. Gary’s proudest accomplishments included transforming Stacy’s mother’s dream cabin into reality and dedicating himself to volunteer work at Waller Baptist Church before moving to Cypress Baptist Church where he remained devoted to the Causey Sunday School class.

Gary was preceded in death by his father, Edwin Odean Brown; brother, Michael Odean Brown; mother-in-law, Ollie Faye Hardy, and brother-in-law, Mark Edward Allen. Gary is survived by his mother, Nila Mae Barclay Brown; wife, Stacy Allen Brown; daughter, Bridget Rachelle Brown; son, Mack Allen Brown and wife, Brittney; grandchildren, Breslyn and Jeffery; sister-in-law, Kama Bozeman and husband, Chuck; aunt, Shannon Barclay; nephews, Brock Bozeman, Shane Feemster and Chris Kelly; nieces, Jordan Bozeman, Charity Verlander and Cherie Kelly Salinas; along with numerous relatives.