By Glenn Rolfe

LAUREL — Condolences, tributes and heartfelt remembrances continue to be shared with word of the death of David Brown of Laurel, whose passion for motorsports, hunting and the outdoors were only exceeded by his love of family, life and zest for helping others.

“Our dad was a great man to so many, but he was an even better dad,” Mr. Brown’s children, Kyle, Kodi and Dana stated in a family Facebook post. “It is obvious that he touched more hearts than we could imagine.”

Mr. Brown passed away unexpectedly Tuesday. He was 64.

Middleford Speedway in Seaford, one of the area racing venues where Mr. Brown served as track announcer, posted the following tribute: “David was ‘The Voice of Dirt Track Racing’ for many years calling the action at area tracks such as Georgetown, Delaware International, Bridgeport and Middleford. David had a magical voice and will be greatly missed. He made racing a show.”

Outdoorsmen are remembering Mr. Brown as an avid hunter. He organized the Delaware Whitetail Open, and this year he was recognized with a tribute from the Delaware House of Representatives for his efforts in planning the event.

Fellow outdoorsmen are vowing to make the Whitetail Deer Open an ongoing tribute to Mr. Brown in his honor.

Steve Tull shared one of Mr. Brown’s acts of kindness and compassion.

“In 2004, David took us on a hunting trip to South Carolina for a disability hunt. He changed our lives by showing that my son, who has multiple disabilities, and I could enjoy the adventures and camaraderie just like any father and son,” Mr. Tull stated. “Friends ever since, we started abilities hunt this year in his Delaware Whitetail Open, which was offered to any hunter with a disability at no cost to them. David was truly a giving man with a huge heart.”

As a businessman, Mr. Brown was the former owner of Sussex Irrigation Co. He had a lawn maintenance business and was a delivery driver for Kitty’s Flowers.

Friends, colleagues and associates remember Mr. Brown for his radiant smile, flashed even during challenging times.

Mr. Brown lost his wife Lori in January 2017 after a battle with cancer. Mr. Brown himself battled cancer several times. His belief was that it is important to “live the dash.”

Says good friend Jay Wilkins in a Facebook post, “If going through hell was a prerequisite to be a great human being, David Brown mastered it! His words of encouragement, his appreciation for life was simply genuine. If you didn’t know him, you should have!”

“I’m gonna miss that guy,” said Mr. Wilkins.

Alan Bradley of Seaford “will be forever grateful for the conversations David and I had regarding our battles with cancer. He was a true inspiration!”

There are stories of outright generosity.

“My niece Angie is awaiting a double lung transplant and is unable to take care of her yard,” said Milinda Lamont Miller. “He took care of it this last part of the year and had just recently told my sister that when spring comes around, he will be taking care of it again (and he wouldn’t accept payment). I hope he is reunited with Lori and is telling my niece Tracey how much everyone misses her.”

“David was a great guy, passionate, full of life, and would give you the shirt off his back,” said Susan Nancarrow of Seaford. “He would help anyone, anywhere. He will be missed so much.”

“What a role model of a man, husband, father and friend … #livelikedave.” Aaron Bunting said in a post.

Mr. Brown was a supporter of the Good Ole Boy Foundation. Memorial contributions in Mr. Brown’s name can be sent here.

Visitation will be held at Central Worship Center in Laurel Tuesday, from 5 to 7 p.m. A memorial service on Wednesday will start at 11 a.m. at Central Worship Center with a visitation one hour prior to the service.

Interment will follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Laurel.