Obituary of Chesley Wilfred Brown
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Chesley (Chet) Wilfred Brown, Peck Meadow Road, Greenfield, NS
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.
Born on June 8, 1935, he was the youngest child of and predeceased by Henry George and Nellie Grace (Spinney) Brown, by brothers Lewis, Justin, Elmer, Clayton and Keith and sister, Ethel Morine.
Left to mourn are 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.
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 Friends of Hank Snow Society held an annual Tribute, part of which was the Sounds Like Hank Contest. Chet won the contest 8 times.
Chet was inducted into the Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006 and in the same year was honored with the Deep Roots Valley Arts Award.
Chet wrote and recorded many songs over the years, and released a total of 10 CD’s.
Chet used his musical talent extensively in a volunteer capacity at benefit shows to help fundraise for many organizations and individuals who had a need, all they had to do was ask, there were too many to mention.
Chet was the President of the Greenfield Memorial Cemetery for 38 until his passing. He and Betty, along with friends and neighbours maintained the cemetery where he will be interred at a later time.
In 2003 the Province of Nova Scotia honored him with a certificate for his remarkable contributions to charity.
In 2017 he was honored again by the Province of Nova Scotia “for his tremendously successful country music career and in thanking him for all that he does to improve the lives of his fellow citizens.”
Chet led a rewarding and productive life with his hobbies including his many inventions that were mostly successful and had a good laugh over the not so successful ones, but nothing was more important than family. His wife, best friend and constant companion Betty Lou and their daughter Jacqui were his top priorities always. He was the best Dad ever and was immensely proud of his family.
Chet enjoyed a close and loving family and many friends from all walks of life. He never met a dog he didn’t like. He was always willing to lend a helping hand, had time to chat and a ready smile.
He is missed beyond measure.
We would like to thank Dr. Gina MacDonald and the staff of Medical B. Their kind and compassionate care will never be forgotten.
Donations in Chet’s memory can be made to Hope for Wildlife or to the NS Country Music Hall of Fame (for e-transfers: nscmhf2023@gmail.com).
