Ernest Brown

Ernest "Buddy" Brown, 77, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Wyatt, Mo., died Saturday, April 23, 2005, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born July 23, 1927, in Mississippi County to the late Emory Ernest and Rosa Baugh Brown. He and Ruth Barnes of West Frankfort, Ill., were married May 23, 1964. She survives of the home.

Brown lived most of his life in Wyatt and managed McKesson Wholesale Drug Company in Cairo, Ill., until 1979. Moving to Atlanta, Ga., he continued his career with the McKesson Atlanta Division, retiring in 1993 after 46 years of service.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Ernest "Ernie" and Winona Brown of East Prairie, Mo.; a daughter, Sherry Brown of Memphis, Tenn.; three sisters, Gladys Sevic, Glenna Taylor and Betty Sue Brown, all of Wyatt; four grandchildren and their spouses, Kristi and Derick Tripp of Cape Girardeau, Kip Brown of Jackson, Kasey and Joey Cogdill of East Prairie and Misty Brown Montgomery of St. Louis; and eight great-grandchildren, MaKayla Brown, Kip Brown Jr., Bo Brown, Libby Cogdill and Kennedy Cogdill, all of East Prairie, Kaleb Brown, Zachary Brown and Taylor Brown, all of Cape Girardeau.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Florence Carr, and his first wife, Opal Sullivan Brown.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston, where funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday, with the Rev. Chris Wise, pastor of the Wyatt Methodist Church, and the Rev. Max Samples of West Frankfort officiating.

Interment will follow in IOOF Cemetery under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

Pallbearers will be Kip Brown, Steve Gordon, Glenn Nunn, Bart Carr, Larry Quade and Gary Adkisson.