Roper Funeral Home and Crematory 206 Holly St Jasper, GA 30143 (706) 253-7500 (706) 253-0040 www.roperfuneralhome.com Ivan Ellis Brown passed away peacefully at home on September 23, 2022 following a rich and wonderful life of 84 years. A Nashville, Tennessee native, Ivan was born to Eleanor Estill Brown and Ivan E. Brown Sr., on February 7, 1938. He attended the Montgomery Bell Academy where he was known for his football, track, and basketball accomplishments, lettering in all three sports, helping his football team to become State Champions his senior year, and setting track records that wouldn't be broken for a decade. He was also voted Most Likely to Succeed. He spoke fondly of his high school days and stayed in touch with his fellow MBA alums for the rest of his life, returning from time to time for Homecoming. He attended the University of Texas at Austin where he was a member of the Kappa Sig fraternity and completed both his B.B.A. and M.B.A., and was an army reservist for 6 years following graduation. His early career was spent at Ernst and Young before moving to New York City where he spent the next 3 decades, working for JP Morgan, First Boston, and Merrill Lynch. Before retirement he also spent several years working for First Century in Boston, then moved to Atlanta and finally to the North Georgia Mountains. He leaves behind his loving wife: Kathryn Hutchison Brown, Katie, and is predeceased by his beloved daughter, Sarah Lynn Brown and his sister Henrietta McCutcheon. He is also survived by stepchildren who loved him dearly: Donna Seelig, Laura Skov (Carsten), Joseph Tufts (Caitlin), Kathryn Cole Tufts, and John Tufts (Christine). His step grandchildren who loved him as Grandad: Jamie Seelig, Katie Seelig, Chandler Rutledge Tufts, Selah Jayne Tufts, Henry James Rutledge Tufts, Iris Skov, Eleanor Skov. He will also be missed by his numerous cousins, many of who visited him during his final weeks, and his nieces and nephew. He met his wife, Katie, at a relative's wedding, where it became clear their two families had many connections. They had 22 wonderful years together, 18 of them living in the home they built in Big Canoe, where Ivan treasured the view and continued to prove to be an accomplished cook and host for their many friends and visiting family. He often said the prettiest place he had ever seen was there in those mountains. He traveled widely and globally throughout his adult life, enjoying trips to Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, and Quebec in recent years. He is remembered by his family and friends, and everyone who met him, for his love of good food, Texas football, the outdoors, live theater and American History. Most of all he will be dearly missed for his honesty, interest in others, equanimity, generous love, and genuine good nature, as well as for the twinkle in his eye when hearing or telling a good story. He was a member of the Holy Family Episcopal Church of Jasper, Georgia, where he served on the Vestry. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a service in his memoriam on Saturday, October 15 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Holy Family's outreach ministry. "Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord; and may his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen."