William C. Brown

William C. Brown passed away peacefully at his home in Oklahoma City on August 25. He was born Jul 27, 1927 in Brooklyn, NY, the only son of Ethel Mae (Ryan) Brown and William J. Brown. Bill attended the University of Notre Dame both before and after an enlistment in the US Navy at the end of WWII. While at Notre Dame, he met his future wife, Carol Morin and they were married in Chicago in October of 1949. Bill worked for a few years in San Antonio, Tx. before moving to Oklahoma City with his wife Carol in 1952. There, they began to build a successful company, 7-Eleven, and raised a family of eight children. He was an avid golfer and member of Quail Creek Golf and Country Club and a devoted parishioner of Christ the King Catholic Church. Throughout his life he remained an ardent supporter of Notre Dame and a member of the school's business council. With his wife Carol, he was a supporter of numerous local, national and international charities including the Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity, Great Expectations Foundation of Tahlequah, Ok and various Catholic Charities nationally and internationally. In 2014, Bill was awarded the "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" or the Cross of Honor by Pope Francis, presented by Archbishop Coakley. It is the highest medal that can be awarded to the laity by the Pope. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Joy and his wife of over 62 years, Carol. He is survived by his sister Pat; eight children and spouses, Kathy and Tom Ryan of Oklahoma City, Bill and Gil Brown of Chicago, Il., Steve and Sara Brown of Oklahoma City, Carol Morrissette of Camarillo, Ca., Jim and Jill Brown of Oklahoma City, Bob Brown of San Diego, Ca., Patti and Eric McGraw of Charlottesville, Va., and Barbara and Brett Willis of Oklahoma City; 28 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.