CHET BROWN OBITUARY

It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of Chet Brown, at age 90 on July 13th at the Valley Regional Hospital, after suffering a brain stem stroke 10 days earlier.

Chet’s obituary can be found on Serenity Funeral Home and outlines a life well lived and a wonderful musical career. The Friends of Hank Snow Society have for many years been the recipient of his special voice and a plaque in the Museum states that he was a Master of the Sounds Like Hank Contest. He won that contest 8 times at the Hank Snow Tributes over the years.

Chet was known for his beautiful outfits that were designed and made by his wife of over 60 years Betty Lou.

Chet, along with his wife Betty Lou took great enjoyment and pride in maintaining their large country property, organic vegetable gardens, flower gardens and his woodlot that he meticulously maintained with select cutting. Chet cut the family’s firewood until age 88 and truly loved time spent in the woods doing woods work, along with hunting and fishing.

Chet lived his 90 years in the house where he was born on Peck Meadow Road in Greenfield.

After leaving school he worked on the family farm, later on the pulpwood boats, Blomidon Nurseries and then a long career with the Department of Transportation from which he retired at age 65. Chet kept busy and active until the end of his life. In addition to maintaining the property, he enjoyed a long walk every day until just a couple of years ago. He enjoyed his walks for many years with his beloved Beagle, Lea. He has had many grand-dogs over the years, and had a very special bond with Pie who visited her Grampie every day including during his recent hospital stay.

Many people will remember Chet from his long involvement with Country Music. When he was 11 years old, his mother gave him a Palm Beach guitar from Sears at a cost of $11.95. Not long after he was playing and singing at school concerts. From there he won his first talent contest at a J.B. Hamm Show in 1946. He wrote and recorded the theme song for Hal’s Corral, a daily radio country music show on CKEN Radio, Kentville. He also did a weekly radio show on CKEN in the early 1960’s. In 1963 he toured NS with the Lorne Baker Show. After that he emceed and opened for Mac Wiseman at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. Twice he opened the Seniors’ Expo shows at the Metro Centre in Halifax, sharing the bill with Rosemary Clooney and Wayne Rostad. He performed on Breakfast TV, Fred Isenor’s TV show, CBC’s Sounds like Canada and Information Morning. Chet was a regular guest performer at the Nine Mile River Jamboree for 23 years.

The musical community of Nova Scotia has lost a wonderful musician and performer. He will long be remembered for his renditions of Hank Snow songs and for his sense of humour as well.

Condolences are sent out from the Board of Directors of the Friends of Hank Snow Society to his wife of 60 years, Betty Lou (King) and daughter Jacqui, son in law Peter Taylor, his beloved grand-dogs Pie and Bean and many nieces and nephews.