Donald Ramsey Brown

Donald Ramsey Brown was born on March 16, 1937, in Monroe, Louisiana to the late Florine Ramsey and Cecil Warren Brown and passed from this life on Friday, October 9, 2026 in Searcy, Arkansas.

He was raised in Columbia and graduated from Columbia High School. Following high school, he graduated from Louisiana State University and earned his Juris Doctorate from their law school. He was a proud Tigers alumni.

Donald moved back to Columbia and practiced law there and in Olla for several years. In 1967, he moved to Monroe to join the McKinley Law Firm before becoming a founding partner of Dimos, Brown, and Erskine Law Firm. He truly enjoyed his chosen profession for decades before retiring to Heber Springs, Arkansas.

When Donald moved to Monroe he became a faithful member of Southside United Methodist Church and continued in the transition to Lea Joyner Memorial Methodist Church. He counted Lea as a close personal friend and advisor for many years until her untimely death. He was a member of Heber Springs United Methodist Church while living there.

Donald was an avid outdoorsman and spent as much time as he could enjoying The Sportman’s Paradise mostly hunting deer, ducks, geese and fishing. When he moved to Arkansas he quickly became passionate about trout fishing on the Little Red River.

He was a big believer in giving back to his profession and community that served him well. He volunteered many hours of service on boards, charities, and service organizations. He was a voracious reader with particular interest in the Civil War and presidential history.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Charlotte Hislop, and a son, Christopher Todd Brown.

He is survived by sons, David Brown of Lakeland, Florida, Scott Brown of Monroe, and Patrick Brown of West Monroe; daughter, Laurie Shipman (Jeff) of Searcy, Arkansas; three grandsons, Landry Shipman (Jessie), Fielding Shipman, and Foster Shipman.

Donald will be remembered and his life celebrated at Riser Funeral Home in Columbia on Tuesday, October 13. Visitation 10:30-11:30 and service 11:30-12:00.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Arkansas Freedom Fund, RE: Freedom Anglers, PO Box 411, Atkins, AR 72823