Douglas S. Brown; Lawyer, Entrepreneur

Douglas Seaton Brown of Ventura, an entrepreneur, avocado rancher and 41-year Ventura County resident, died Friday in his home of natural causes. He was 81.

Brown was born July 2, 1915, in Casper, Wyo., the third of five children of William and Agnes Brown, who had immigrated to the United States from Glasgow, Scotland.

After graduating from the Creighton University School of Law, Brown served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II as a pilot, fighting in Europe.

After being honorably discharged from the service as a major, Brown practiced law in Casper and entered the oil drilling business as one of the founding owners of True & Brown Drilling.

Brown drilled for crude oil in Wyoming until 1955, then moved to Ventura, where he established and operated several businesses, including the Brown Brothers Avocado Ranch.

Brown also served as president of the Saticoy Country Club and was active in a variety of philanthropic endeavors.

Brown is survived by his wife, Helen T. Brown of Ventura; a sister, Edith Nightengale; eight children: Carole Oldemeyer and Ronald Brown of Fort Collins, Colo.; Richard Thrasher of La Crescenta; Sherry Lovette of Jamul; Douglas Brown Jr. of Holyoke, Mass.; James Thrasher of Springfield, Ore.; Barbara Mertz of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Cynthia Stees of Gillette, Wyo.; 24 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. today at College United Methodist Church, in Ventura. Interment will follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.

Contributions in Brown’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society in Ventura, or to College United Methodist Church.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura.