Bernard Michael Brown, 83, of Hays, passed away Saturday, November 19, 2016, at Hays Medical Center. Born September 28, 1933 in Hays, KS, he was the fifth child of Lawrence L. and Mary Brungardt Brown. He graduated from St. Joseph Military Academy and attended Fort Hays State University. He married Phyllis Ann Beilman on October 28, 1953.
He was the retired general manager of KBSH TV (the successor of KAYS TV), where he worked from 1960 until 1993. Prior to that, he worked in his father’s barber shop on Main Street from 1953 until 1960. From 1976 until 1999, he and his family owned Professor Pittewurst’s restaurant. A member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, he enjoyed Kansas City sports teams, golf, watching the stock market, reading newspapers and magazines, tinkering around the house, watching the rosary and mass on EWTN, helping family members and others when they needed it, selling things on Nex-Tech, working puzzles in the newspaper, and playing Scrabble daily with Phyllis. Bernie was a positive thinker and viewed Jesus as his partner in life.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Phyllis Ann Beilman Brown of Hays; one son, Mike, and his wife Cyndi of Prairie Village, KS.; one sister, Mary Alice Carroll, Phoenix, AZ; one brother, Gerald A. Brown, New York, NY; in-laws, Jim Gragson, Springfield, MO, Jim Fuchs, Cincinnati, OH, JoAnn Brown, Hays, KS, Joan and Fred Scott, Russell, KS, and Karen and Ron Diehl, Hays, KS.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Flora Lee Fuchs, Lawrence F. (Red) Brown, Bette Gragson, Bill Brown, and Theresa Brown.
Funeral services will be Saturday, November 26, 2016 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.
Visitation will be 5 PM – 8 PM Friday with a combined parish vigil and rosary at 7 PM and Saturday 9 AM – 9:30 AM all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.
Memorials are suggested to the Rectory Remodeling Project at St. Joseph’s Church or the Cancer Council of Ellis County.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com.