Harvey L. Brown's Obituary
Harvey Lawrence Brown, 81, of Richmond, went home to be with the Lord on June 21, 2025.
Harvey was born on March 4, 1944, to Harvey and Delores Brown. As a young boy, he was a wild child, famously climbing the drawbridges in Port Huron at the age of six to catch pigeons with the older kids in the neighborhood. This fearless and daring identity shaped Harvey’s persona for the rest of his life. He also learned the value of hard work at an early age, understanding that dedication pays off—a work ethic that became ingrained in every part of his being.
At the age of 13, Harvey moved back to Richmond to live with his grandmother, Mae Ottenbacher. He excelled in sports, particularly basketball and football, and graduated from Richmond High School in 1963.
One day, while cruising through Richmond, he met a girl from Adair named Diane Achatz. They soon fell in love, and Diane played a significant role in “domesticating” and calming down our beloved Harvey—though he still had his wild side. Her parents, Vincent and Irene Achatz, truly became like parents to Harvey, and he loved them deeply.
Harvey was drafted into the Army and stationed in Germany in the late 1960s. After returning from the service, Harvey and Diane were married at St. Augustine Catholic Church and went on to raise three children: Scott, Reneé, and Andrew. They enjoyed many summers in Caseville, trips to Las Vegas, and so much more.
Harvey also founded the building company HB Homes in 1976 and went on to build many custom homes in the area. He also developed two subdivisions: Diane Lane in Richmond and River Ridge Estates in St. Clair Township. His legacy and love of building carried on to his oldest son, Scott, who continues the hard work through his company, Marlin Building. Harvey was often a senior advisor to Scott, even in the last few years and months of his life, and was very proud to see his legacy carried on.
In 1999, tragedy struck when Diane was diagnosed with cancer. She passed away on June 22, 1999. Harvey was beyond devastated but stayed resilient and strong for his children.
Chances are, if you went to the McDonald’s in Richmond in the past 40 years, you likely had a conversation with Harvey. He was there nearly every day, and what should have been a 15-minute lunch break often turned into a 90-minute endeavor because Harvey loved to shake hands and talk to everyone. Harvey said his goal was to shake a million hands in his lifetime, and we think he achieved it.
But not only did the Richmond McDonald’s bring Harvey great conversation, it also brought him love. In the early 2000s, Harvey ran into an old friend he rode the bus with as a child, Mary Ann Maedel. They struck up a conversation over a coffee at McDonald’s, and the rest is history; they were like two teenagers in love. They married in 2013.
Although Harvey never won the lottery, he struck gold twice with two remarkable women in his life. He and Mary Ann traveled the world together, spoiled their grandchildren, and, above all, found true love a second time.
Harvey is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Brown; his children, Scott (Tammy) Brown, Reneé (Whitney) Brown, and Andrew (Susan) Brown; and his stepchildren, Edward (Colleen) Maedel and Jan (John) Long. He is also survived by his sisters, Margaret Kelch, Helen Brown, and Georgina (Roger) Daggett, and his aunt Rose Chartland as well as his grandchildren: John Long, Blake Brown, Brendan Maedel, Garrison Brown, Harvey Brown, and Jackson Brown. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Diane Brown; his grandmother, Mae Ottenbacher; his best friend, Lee Griffin; his brothers, Virgil and Eugene Brown; and his sisters, Delores Fallena and Fern Davis.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Marwood Nursing and Rehab in Port Huron, as well as to all the new friends Harvey made during his final month of life there. A special thank you goes to nurses Stephanie, Kristen, and Nicki, and an extra special thanks to aides Alicia, Tamika, and Marlene. You treated our beloved Harvey with the utmost dignity and respect in his final days, and for that, we cannot thank you enough.
Mass of Resurrection will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 30 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Richmond. In state from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. prior to mass. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
Visiting hours will be Sunday from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Young Funeral Home, China Twp.
Donations can be made out to the family and will be given to local charities in the area.
To leave the family a message of comfort please visit: www.youngcolonial.com
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