Doyl Earl Brown

Doyl Earl Brown, age 93, died May 21, after a brief illness. Doyl enjoyed a long and distinguished banking career and served the community as a civic leader in many capacities over the years. Doyl began working at First National Bank in 1938 as a summer employee for $1 per day, and worked his way up to become the President and Chief Executive Officer of the bank in 1965. Even after retiring from official roles in the bank in the 1990's, he has continued to be involved in the life of 1st National, regularly joining friends for morning coffee. During his career, he also served many roles with the Arkansas Bankers' Association, including a term as President in 1978-79. Doyl was active in the civic life of Wynne, serving as Treasurer to the City, and as Chairman of the Cross County Board of Education, as well as various leadership roles with the Rotary Club, the Wynne Industrial Development Corporation, the East Arkansas Business and Industrial Development Corporation, and the Chamber of Commerce. Doyl was also a long-standing member of Wynne Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder and adult Sunday School teacher. Doyl is survived by two sons, Byron Brown(Betsy) of Tallahassee, Florida, and Kevin Brown of Washington, D.C.; two granddaughters, Megan Kelly (Brian) of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Emily Brown of Jacksonville, Florida; and three siblings, Laurel Ellis, Richard Brown, and Nina Spencer, all of Wynne. Doyl's extended family included Marice Boardman and Charlie and Bunny Brown. Doyl was preceded in death in August 2012 by his beloved wife of 69 years, Aletha; his eldest son Clyne; twin great-grandsons, Finn and Jack Kelly; and five siblings, Carson and Bill Brown, Beryl Thomas, Doris Ellis, and Mildred Bostick. Graveside services will be Saturday, May 24, 2014, at 10 AM at Crosslawn Cemetery in Wynne. Memorial services will be Saturday, May 24, 2014, at 11 a.m. at the Wynne Presbyterian Church.