Epstine " Buddy" Brown, 83, of Lake City, Florida passed away peacefully, on Sunday, July 13, 2014. He was born in Lake City, Florida to the late Epstine H. and Fannie Bell [Mason] Brown, Sr., and had lived here in Lake City for the past 43 years, coming from Jacksonville, Florida.
"Buddy" was a hard working man who enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and cooking out. He was a caring husband, father, grand and great grandfather who gave his love to his family abundantly and unconditionally. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Mary Ruth & Ruby Smith, and his precious children, Guy, Randy, Baby girl Brown, and grandson Matt.

Survivors include his loving wife of 63 years, Mary Brown of Lake City, FL; sons, William Brown and David (Renee) Brown both of Lake City, FL and Steve (Daun) Brown of Green Cove Springs, FL; daughters, Mary Jane (Paul) Altman of Orange Park, FL, Linda (James) Davis of Lake Butler, FL, Brenda (Carl) Rodgers of Statenville, GA, and Sherry (Wade) Burlingame and Mary Margaret Brown both of Lake City, FL; sisters, Sandy (Donnie) Gill of Jacksonville, FL,, Shirley Brown of Callahan, FL, Jackie Parrot of Jacksonville, FL, and Sarah Carmichael of Wellborn, FL; brothers, Johnny (Lisa) Brown and James (Jeanette) Brown both of Lake City, FL; 19 grandchildren & 13 step grandchildren; and 27 great grandchildren & 21 step great grandchildren and 2 step great great grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday; July 16, 2014 in the chapel of Gateway-Forest Lawn Funeral Home with Dr. Rodney Baker officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be held Tuesday evening, July 15, 2014, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.