Thomas Larry Brown, 88, of Carmi, passed away on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at Wabash Senior Living in Carmi. He was born on Sunday, July 4, 1937, just outside Maunie, Illinois, the son of Harry and Iona (Wooten) Brown. Larry married Kathryn Lynn Spencer in 1964, and she survives. He worked as a power plant operator for the City of Carmi for over 37 years.
As a youngster, he also worked on his family farm, worked at his older brother Bob’s filling station and for Pumphrey’s Grain Elevator. Larry was a member of the First Baptist Church in Carmi. He loved gardening and was great at it, loved listening to bluegrass and older country music, and collecting books about tractors. As a youngster, Larry was a diehard Brooklyn Dodgers fan, and later became a St. Louis Cardinals fan.
In addition to his wife, Kathryn Brown of Carmi, IL., Larry is survived by his children, Toby Brown of Carmi, IL, Thom (Melissa) Brown of New Hope, AL., and Deborah Catlin of Herald, IL; grandchildren, Cory Catlin of Mt. Vernon, IN, Kelly Catlin of Carmi and Lilly Brown of New Hope, AL; great-grandchildren, Kaden and Garret Catlin of Carmi; his twin brother, Jerry Brown of Huntsville, AL, and several cousins, nephews and nieces.
He is preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Bob Brown, Jim Brown, John Brown, and Gale Larson, and step siblings Nellie Jane Rust and Harry Phillip Brown.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 22, 2025, in the chapel of Roberts and Cook Funeral Service 101 Edgewood Lane, Carmi, Illinois, with Pastor Drake Caudill officiating. Family and friends may visit from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 21, 2025, and again from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at the chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting contributions for gift cards to be given to the wonderful CNA’s who cared for Larry at the nursing home. Roberts and Cook Funeral Service has been entrusted with arrangements.
