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
Virginia Herrick says:
December 7, 2017
This is the message we sent to be read to Jerry in the ICU. It represents the urgent reaching out of friends who suddenly realize what they have not said, but hope is already known:
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Dear Jerry,
We well remember the first time we and Sirius met you, with your trademark dog cookies in your pocket! Thank goodness for your lifelong kindness to dogs, which so often took Sirius straight to you, when he escaped our fence or garage, when he would have otherwise gone “walkabout.”
Thank goodness for your good humor and friendliness, for your labor of love on the Human Rights Film Festival, for being that jovial, accessible neighbor and friend, all these years. Thank goodness for your and Beth’s political signs, which we always looked to when we were uncertain which way to vote!
It was always a pleasure to see you in your garden or garage, and exchange friendly waves or stop and chat a while about how the tomatoes were doing, whether we’d seen any deer or coyotes lately, what the kids were up to. We were glad to know you were there, or to keep an eye on the place when you weren’t. Our days were brightened any time something brought you to our doorstep.
All the good days and months and years, we have been so blessed by having you and Beth across the way. Now we send those blessings back to you tenfold.
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Jerry really had the “hail, fellow, well met!” nature that made us feel that as soon as we met him, we’d been friends for a long time. And then … we were! When so many neighbors remain anonymous in this community, Jerry was always ready to chat, ready to help, ready to come over for a little barbecue, to bring us some fresh tomatoes, to share his knowledge, and his great smile. We ran into him often around town, as our concerns overlapped. He was always well-informed, thoughtful, articulate, and kind. I wept when I heard of his passing, though I delight in his transition to the next great adventure, because I will miss him so very much.
Jerry’s great heart will live on in the lives of those he touched. Yet the world is poorer for his passing.
Love,
Virginia
Joe and Jeannie Miller says:
December 7, 2017
Dear Beth, Its hard to express how sad we were, to hear of the loss of Jerry. Jeannie has such fond way back memories of you both in Honduras – how kind, secure and like a rock you both seemed to a little British volunteer, who felt somewhat cast loose with little support from her own organization. You were a true team and when we saw you again in Estes Park in 2014, 46 years later (how young we must have been) there you were again, with Jerry having successfully fought a very serious illness – unchanged, such a strong team, Jerry was evangelizing for wind power and so enthusiastic for an alternative energy dear to our own hearts. So much to be done and he was doing it.I was sad to miss you both in October at Santa Fe. I had been looking forward to it. Joe was so glad he made it and came home saying he’d had a wonderful talk with Jerry at lunch and felt they’d really connected. He’s glad not to have missed that talk.
We wish you healing Beth and joy in your sadness, as you remember your remarkable,wonderful Jerry. Fondly, Jeannie and Joe
Ann and Klaus Krause says:
December 7, 2017
Dear Beth,
So sorry to hear about Jerry’s passing. Such a wonderful life you two made for yourselves together. I’m sure his loving spirit will be with you and your family as you go forward with your lives.
All the best and love,
Ann and Klaus
D. Harris says:
December 7, 2017
Dear Family, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your dear loved one and send you my sincere condolences. May you find comfort from God’s word at Revelation 21:3,4 and John 5:28,29. Heartfelt prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Brenda Hudson (ymca) says:
December 7, 2017
Beth I am so sorry for your loss jerry was a great guy he always loved tease when he was at the ymca I enjoyed visiting with him You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers
Brenda