Alice May “Sunny” Brown
July 5, 1934 – September 28, 2023
Alice “Sunny” Brown was born in Seattle, Washington to parents John Ogden and Jeanne Robertson. Living in the South Park neighborhood at the time, the family soon moved to Queen Ann Hill where Sunny and her younger sister Rosalie attended John Hay Elementary and later Queen Ann High School. She remained a “Grizzly” right up to the end, attending many high school reunions and luncheons.
Sunny enjoyed three marriages. The first was to Jim Reid, and together they had the first of Sunny’s three beautiful daughters, Kerry Sue Reid. Sunny’s second marriage was to Ward Hicker, who was also a graduate of Queen Ann High School. Sunny and Ward had daughters Jan and Julie and son Joe, and the family resided in the Ridgecrest neighborhood of north Seattle until the late 1970s. Sunny’s last marriage was to Jerald (Jerry) Brown of El Paso, TX, after which Sunny returned to the Seattle area.
Sunny was a working mom and spent her early career as a bank teller before moving into loans and real estate appraisal. Later in her career she worked in administration at Crowley Maritime, a company and position she very much enjoyed.
After leaving the workforce in the late 1990s, Sunny moved to the Birch Bay community where she enjoyed a busy and vibrant retirement. Sunny embraced and loved her new community, and like everywhere she lived she made many new friends. Sunny strongly believed in giving to her community, and she helped with and advocated for numerous campaigns and initiatives. Sunny devoted countless hours as a volunteer with Drayton Harbor Maritime where she served over 20 years as coordinator for the Alaska Packer’s Association (APA) Cannery Museum and with fundraising to maintain the historic MV Plover. Sunny also enjoyed her time with Free Church Unitarian in Blaine and the many friends she
made there.
Throughout her life Sunny was an upbeat, engaging, and outgoing personality whose smile could warm the coldest days. Sometimes it seemed like she had more friends than stars in the sky, and along with her family she deeply cared for them all. Sunny is survived by her sister Rosalie McCreary; daughters Kerry Reid (Grant Morris), Jan Roe (John), Julie Benson (Gary); son Joe Hicker (Katey Niemer); three grandchildren of which she was immensely proud of: Blake Benson (Chloe), Dusty Benson, and Hailey Roe. Also of special note are the many alumni of the Marker Boys Scuba Diving Club of the late 1960s and 70s that Sunny and Ward belonged to, many of whom became like extended family. Our family is ever grateful to all who shared and made the rich life that mom so enjoyed and was at complete peace with when she left this world for the next.
An open house celebration of Sunny’s life will be held Friday, November 3 from 1 – 4 p.m. at the Cannery Lodge & APA Museum at Semiahmoo Park, 9261 Semiahmoo Parkway, Blaine. Parking is limited, please consider carpooling if possible.
