Brown, C. Ellsworth

Published in The State Journal-Register on 1/23/2009

BEASON, IL - C. Ellsworth Brown "Brownie," 94, of Beason, IL passed away Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, at Holland Barry and Bennett Funeral Home in Lincoln, with the honorable Michael P. McCuskey officiating.

Burial will follow in Harmony Cemetery in rural Beason. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009, at the funeral home.

Brownie was born July 17, 1914, in Beason, son of the late Cecil and Olive (Bumcrots) Brown.

He married Mable Azbill on May 27, 1936, in Hamilton, Ohio; she preceded him in death on Oct. 31, 1998.

Mr. Brown was a baseball scout for more than 50 years. He scouted for the Chicago White Sox, the Kansas City Royals, the Washington Senators and the Minnesota Twins for more than 25 years.

He was responsible for signing baseball greats such as Kirby Puckett and Bill Madlock, as well as hundreds more players. He was the self-proclaimed oldest living baseball scout in the United States. During his scouting time, he received two World Series of Baseball Rings from the Minnesota Twins in 1987 and 1991. In 2005, he was inducted into the Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame.

He was a remarkable man who enjoyed the game of baseball, but more importantly enjoyed the people he was able to touch because of the game.

Surviving are three cousins, Marjorie DeVore of Clinton, Jim Trowbridge of Beason and Harriet Obits of Lincoln. He is also survived by his caretakers and friends, Carla Hutchison and Tera Walters, both of Beason.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.

Memorial donations may be made to the Lincoln Pony Association in care of the Lincoln Park District and will be accepted at the funeral home.