Jerry Allin Brownfield
March 29, 1942 - December 07, 2017
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Jerry Allin Brownfield
March 29, 1942 - December 07, 2017
Obituary
FOR what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek spirit unencumbered?
ONLY when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
Kahlil Gibran
Jerry Brownfield, Bellingham, WA, after a life full of love and adventure, “walked into the forest” with jaunty steps, and deep clear breaths, on December 7, 2017. He had a deep and abiding love of the natural world.
He was a man of twinkling eyes, inquisitiveness and love, an incredible son, brother, uncle, husband, father and friend to all.
Jerry was the son of Allen Brownfield, and Alice (Zimmerman) Brownfield, of Sacramento, CA. Married (June 27, 1964) for fifty-three years to Virginia Elizabeth (Beth) Batcheller. He received a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Davis in 1967. Beth and Jerry served in the Peace Corps from 1967-1969 in Honduras, Central America.
Jerry’s engineering degree took him in 1969 to General Mills in Golden Valley, MN for two years, and then to Thermo King (Transport Refrigeration) in Minneapolis, MN for over 30. The family lived in Oranmore, Ireland from 1983 to 1985, as Jerry worked for Thermo King. Jerry and Beth moved to Bellingham in 2004.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Margaret (Brownfield) Harmer. His legacy and memories will live on in daughters Amie Lenore Brownfield and Jenny Elizabeth (Brownfield) Bowefield; grandchildren Erin Beth Bowefield, Dylan Scott Bowefield; sister Caroline (Brownfield) Minto; niece Vicky and nephews Mark Minto and Robin Harmer; and hundreds of friends and acquaintances around the globe.
Jerry was an active volunteer with the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center, the Human Rights Film Festival Task Force, a men’s hiking group, and three book groups. He took many courses through the Academy for Lifelong Learning. He was an inventor (wind and solar energy in particular), and active in the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship. He loved singing, gardening, hiking, conversing, tinkering, inventing, and writing poetry.
When friends and family were asked who Jerry was for them, their responses included, but were not limited to: adaptable, admired, adventurous, authentic, caring, comfortable, contemplative, creative, diligent, doggedly determined, down to earth, empathetic, enthusiastic helper, ethical, fixer, full of laughter, generous, gentle, good listener, gracious, honorable, honest, humble, imaginative, inclusive, filled with integrity, intelligent, inventive, kind, level headed, loyal, mensch (A person who does the right thing at the right time for the right reason), mentor, non-judgmental, optimistic spirit, peacemaker, poetic, practical wisdom, present to all moments and beauty of life, problem solver, resourceful, respectful, responsible, humorous, smart, sparkling eyes, stand-up guy, steadfast and loyal, strong & stable, supportive, talented, thoughtful, understanding, warm, and wise. Please share memories at this page.
Jerry has walked on and will continue to inspire us by his examples.
Memorial Service, Saturday, January 27, 3:30-6:00 p.m. Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship
Donations in his memory to: Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center (13 Prospect St.#201, Bellingham, WA 98225), or Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival (http://bhrff.webs.com/donate.htm).
Celebration Of Life
- Date & Time: January 18, 1272 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship
- Location: 1207 Ellsworth Street Bellingham, WA 98225 - (Get Directions)
- Phone Number: (360) 73-3-3837
50 responses to Jerry Allin Brownfield
Jan Brandstetter says:
December 7, 2017
It was so nice reconnecting in Santa Fe, so many years after our Peace Corps Service. It was an honor and privilege knowing Jerry. Our thoughts and go out to family at this difficult time. God bless you all.
Ray & Le Schreurs says:
December 7, 2017
Beth, So sorry to hear of Jerry’s death. We remember you both for your years at First Unitarian Society, as well as, UniStar. You may not have known it, but you were our son Steve’s mentor. He followed in environmental studies and then engineering because of you.
Our hearts are with you, Beth. May your memories help to support you in your grief.
Wishing you the best, Ray & Le Schreurs
Tom and Kathy Exter says:
December 7, 2017
Dear Beth and extended family members and friends,
As a Honduras Peace Corps volunteer with you and Jerry, I and my family extend our sincere condolences to you and family at this time. I truly appreciate all you and Jerry gave to the people of Honduras, back then and through the years following, You are amazing examples of true commitment to a people in need. Our group has come back together again, thanks to the efforts of so many, and all that has brought us to really appreciate Jerry and his great spirit, relationships, and accomplishments. This is human synergy and energy at work! As a Unitarian, I especially appreciate the fact that people of good will and love will do what it takes to make life better for others.
All the best, in this time, to you, Beth and your community,
Tom and Kathy
Barb & Paul Villarreal says:
December 7, 2017
Dear Beth & Family: We are posting our previous comments for Jerry and you,as requested by you Beth….heartfelt condolences sent to you at this time in life’s passages….we will all face…but no matter how much reality….remains such a sad time to say final goodbyes……We are both thinking of you always, and hoping, Beth, that you will stay in touch with us….and are forever welcome to come to Tennessee….
The comments previously sent:…..about being at the last Peace Corps reunion and meeting you (Jerry) and Beth…..here I am sitting at Win’s house…watching all the activity…and, well, knowing I was never in the Peace Corps, it was kind of isolating for me to sit and watch and wait to see/hear something “familiar” you know what I mean..right? …..then, someone sits by me and says…”I am NOT going to let you get away this time!”….It was you,Jerry….and we fell into a conversation about the problems you were having with growing…the daggone bugs eating your leaves and what to do…..what to do…..you lifted my spirits up just be bringing up the conversation with me….and we found we had a commonality between us “growers”…like I guess growers do….we could talk about it forever…….should you use “agrofabric” to keep out the bugs….or a special “bug net (cicada net)…or stand guard…ha!! that’s not possible though right? (standing guard)…but I have to admit….I know those bugs eat early in the morning, and I’ve been known to go out into my hoop houses, sit down where they’ve “waged war” and CATCH THOSE BUGGERS!!! sometimes it’s a moth…sometimes it’s the worm itself…but it’s always the MOTHS causing the problem…as our place is surrounded by corn grown by the farmers…….I guess you gather from this that I enjoyed the exchange we had, and how you had the “magic” to ‘bring me into the fold of PC volunteers’.
Then Beth and I started talking about your trip you had planned after the reunion….I enjoyed those conversations with you Beth and felt close to you and Jerry for what we exchanged and grateful I met such great people!!
Love to you both, and the highest energy coming your way, we will both be keeping you both very close to us.
Barb&Paul Villarreal
Suzanne (Batcheller) Hendricks says:
December 7, 2017
I can only say how sad and sorry I am that I never knew Jerry in person. Still – there was a strong connection. I have looked forward to, and greatly enjoyed, the seasonal salutations that Jerry and Beth sent out every year, so I do feel a familiarity with his thoughts and his time moving through this world. Clearly, Jerry had a full, and fully involved, life.
I am certain that there remains a huge hole in the hearts of those who loved, and were closest to Jerry. Still, the serenity and peaceful acceptance expressed by Beth, his life-long partner, remain as testimony to all the Good that he left behind.
Jerry’s was a path well walked. Now as he has moved on to Whatever-Comes-Next, we wish for his family the Peace that passes all understanding.