James “Jim” McCulloch Brown, a devoted servant of his community, died Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at home in Fairfax, Missouri, at the age of 75.

Jim grew up in California but spent most of his life in Atchison County. He was elected four times to the Fairfax R-III School Board, was director of the local fire board for 30+ years, helped found Fairfax Community Betterment, and volunteered with the cemetery association where he is now buried.

Born in Sacramento, California, on November 1, 1947, Jim graduated in 1965 from Sequoia High School in Redwood City, California. He married his sweetheart, Mary DeHaven, soon after.

He enlisted in the Air Force at the height of the Vietnam War and analyzed reconnaissance images near Saigon as a Staff Sergeant from 1968-1969.

After an honorable discharge in 1971, Jim studied chemistry and biology at San Francisco State University. He jumped at an opportunity to learn to farm, and moved his family to the Steele land near Fairfax, which he remembered fondly from visits in his youth.

Jim was buried March 29, 2023, at a private ceremony in English Grove Cemetery, Fairfax. A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Fairfax Methodist Church, Fairfax, where he was a member since 1974. Pastor Brad Dush will conduct the service.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Drisdale and Mary Margaret (Steele) Brown of Fairfax; and his aunt and uncle, Martha (Steele) and Albert Evans of Fairfax.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Mary K. Brown; his brother, Stanley (Cheryll) Brown, of Redlands, California; three children, Lisa (James) Bennett of Germantown, Maryland, Russ (Stacy) Brown of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Amy Brown of Boston, Massachusetts; three grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Open visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m., Friday, June 2, 2023, at Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port, Missouri. There is no scheduled family visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Fairfax Methodist Church or the Fairfax Volunteer Fire Department. Services are under the direction of Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port. Online condolences may be left at www.minterfuneralchapels.com.