Donald J. Brown 91 of Yarmouth Port died at his home Thursday September 12, 2019.

Don was quite a character – he grew up in Medford but would have been content on a mountainside by a stream, hunting and fishing and carving something.

Don was a master storyteller, voracious reader, artist, lover of history, women and wit. Coming from a long line of fishermen and boat-builders in Musgravetown, Newfoundland, his love for any body of water and carpentry carried on the strong tradition throughout his life in his work and his oil paintings which abide in many homes on Cape Cod.

Missing Don are his children, Donna Mercer and her husband, David of Raymond, NH, Dianna MacDonald of West Yarmouth, and Jim Brown of Brewster; his sister Patty McCarthy and her husband, Charlie of Abington; his four grandchildren, Heidi, Dean, Katie, and Ryan; his great-grandson, Claydon; and his many loved nieces, nephews, and a group of rowdy friends.

A celebration for Don will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday October 12 in the Yarmouth Senior Center, 528 Forest Road, West Yarmouth.

As an expression of sympathy, Don appreciated care from Beacon Hospice, 68 Center Street, Unit 19, Hyannis, MA 02601.

“Memories are like almost forgotten melodies that are best left to sing their songs in the silent places of one’s heart.” DJB.

Uncle, Mentor, Teacher, Best Friend, and best of all Father-Figure. I own Don all of what I am and have done on my adult life. Don help me immensely and invited me to come to the US form Spain some 45 years ago. I spend 16 years of my life living with Don until I married. I never spent a single year together with my biological father, my father unfortunately drifted away after the earlier dead of my mother at age 30 Most of my young life was living with my grandmother until she passed away when I was 10 years old them move to live with my aunts, one move to the US and married Don. Only the last two or three years before me moving to the US got to spend some bits of time with my father trying to get to know him. Once I move to the US me and my father used to write to each other and one fact that I am proud to say is that my father told me on one of his letters and quote “ how happy I am that you are safe thanks to Don a man full of kindness larger than life and larger than me to do the things he is doing for you” … yes I use to tell him every detail of my new life here in the US which he enjoyed immensely. My father passed away a few years later, I know he saw in Don what he missed on his life, main reason for elevating Don to a boundless stature. Don I mourn you no longer with us it has created a chasm, you will be forever missed and never forgotten. Sorry I didn’t call you as often as I should have but you knew well I am not a man of the phone. As an anecdote, most of our calls will be fist spending two or three minutes saying to each other”.. is this the man to whom you are speaking to.. reply…no no this is the man to who I am now speaking at…way to whom you are now with….yes this is whom now I am speaking with..” just a mumble-yambo of “whom” and “who is” and “he what” … yes, pure nonsense, but wonderful moment for both us. Yes, I do now have countless “forgotten melodies” and they are all now playing their beautiful songs silently in my heath. Don, you couldn’t have inspired such a beautiful and wonderful phrase. Don I am somewhat glad you flew away and in due time I will be honor to once more join you on your flight Don Thank you so much for your patience, mentoring and great advise. I will always Love you Javier (Frank)