Baxter Barnard Brown

Obituary For Baxter Barnard Brown

It is with great sadness that our family announce the passing of Baxter Barnard Brown of Truth or Consequences. He entered into eternal rest on December 12, 2023, after dying peacefully at his home. Baxter was born September 3, 1941, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Kenneth Baxter Brown and Emma Elaine Davis. He graduated from high school in Spring Green, Wisconsin.

Baxter was a traveling man. He became a journeyman electrician (a 58 year member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #159 out of Madison) and moved from Wisconsin to Wyoming and then later to Farmington, New Mexico. He relocated to Truth or Consequences to work as an electrician at the Quintana Copper Mine. Later in life, he even traveled to Gressingham, Germany to see where his ancestors came from. It was green and beautiful, and he knew when he saw the region why the family chose Wisconsin to settle.

Baxter or “Bax” as he was lovingly known, was a social guy with beautiful blue eyes and a charming personality. While out dancing one night at the Silver Slipper, he met Sherry Fletcher. They fell in love and married on November 1, 1982. They had a wonderful life and adventures together over the years.

Bax was a very smart man and liked learning new things. He could fix almost anything. He appreciated the time spent with friends. He especially enjoyed having coffee and good conversations. He will most certainly be missing his time with his best friend, Mike Ryan, as well as others like Ken Payton, Steve Faykus, Clyde Buckalew, and Don and Laura Fiok, and many more.

Bax was passionate about music and especially loved drums. He learned to play them in high school. One of his favorite things was a wooden cajon he kept in the living room. He was also a great singer, but he kept that talent hidden from most.

Nothing got Bax as stoked as wheels. He loved bikes, trikes, motorcycles, cars, trucks, tractors and ATVs. Whether it was driving, riding, researching, or fixing them he was the wheel deal. He even owned a bike shop for a time, putting all his knowledge about wheels to good use.

Bax absolutely adored the outdoors. Whether it was riding bikes or motorcycles, walking the desert, prospecting for gold, sailing, fishing, hiking, scuba diving, farming, and tending to his land, he loved it all. He worked to conserve land with Sherry through their wildlife preserve Campo Espinoso or “thorny field.” Various wildlife, monarch butterflies and huge sunflowers called the land home.

Bax also loved animals. One of his most treasured animal friends was his mule, Rosie. She was pure white and was named after Rosie Messenger, a good friend of his mother-in-law, Maxine Cecil. The legend was Rosie told Maxine after she died, she would come back as a white mule. When Maxine saw the mule, she knew right away it was Rosie. Baxter adored Rosie. He spent time with her every day, tending to her and the land around her. When she died, he was heartbroken and so he stopped tending the land and instead put all his love into his dog, Blue. He took her out to the lake every day until he couldn’t any more due to his health. Blue misses him dearly and awaits him in his truck where they spent lots of time together.

Baxter is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Sherry Lane Fletcher; three sons: Scot Baxter Brown (Janie), Barry Baxter Brown (Aimee), and Baxter Brown Jr (Jennica); Grandchildren: Katie (Scott) Furlong, Lynsie (Lane) Mentaberry, Scott Brown Jr., Ty Brown and Luke Brown; and Great-grandchildren: Noah, Harley and Carter Furlong, and Kaysen Mentaberry. He is also survived by his sisters: Sandi (Tom) Heber and Sue Brown (Bruce) Pereira; Nieces and nephews: Scott, Todd and Brett Heber, David and Ashley Pereira, Todd (Martina) and Jon Brown; and of course, Blue.

In death will be joining his parents, Kenneth and Emma; his beloved daughter, Jill Brown; brother, Terell “Terry” Brown; and step-son, John Paul Duffy, in heaven.

We are thankful he is now at peace, and he will forever be loved and remembered as a generous, free spirit who loved his family and friends. We carry all our memories of him, and time spent with him in our hearts.

Services will be held January 6, 2024 at 10:00A.M. at Kirikos Family Funeral Home (303 N. Cedar Street, Truth or Consequences, NM 87901). Followed by inurnment at Vista Memory Garden Cemetery.