Newman Brown Obituary (1935 - 2024)

Holland “Scrappy” Brown, III, was always planning his next adventure or big project, driven by a passion for learning and new experiences. He had a talent for building and fixing anything, a true love of working and business opportunities, an obsession for all things ‘tech,’ and an enviable dedication to health and fitness – though he did enjoy hosting friends for desserts and Irish Coffee! Above all, he cherished his family. Holland passed away on December 21, 2024, shortly after a week celebrating with family. At 89, he was working and active, still the strong, capable Scrappy everyone loved. Despite overcoming previous serious illnesses, pneumonia proved too much for the man with ‘nine lives.’ Holland met Carolyn, his wife of 56 years, during school, where they became high school sweethearts. He studied Physics and Engineering at Georgia Tech, started at Mobil Oil, then had a successful 25-year career with IBM. While raising their daughters in Houston, most summers were spent at the lake house in Hot Springs where Holland taught the girls to waterski almost as soon as they could walk. He bought an old wooden sailboat resulting in humorous misadventures, yet more time was spent fixing, than sailing. He was excited for the family to become certified scuba divers while the girls were in their teens, leading to unforgettable family trips to Grand Cayman, Barbados, Aruba, and Micronesia. One of Holland’s favorite adventures was bareboat sailing in the Virgin Islands with Carolyn. Together, and often with close friends, they explored Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Malaysia, Europe. In his 60s, he joined the Leukemia Society’s endurance training program, completing triathlons, half marathons, and a century ride in Santa Fe. He continued to bike around White Rock Lake well into his 80s. After retiring from IBM, his entrepreneurial spirit took him and Carolyn to Silicon Valley in California for several years and then Austin, Texas, working with several start-ups. A few years later, they made their final move to Dallas, where he co-founded North Texas Property Tax Services in 2003, and dedicated himself to that business for 21 years, working until his passing. Even after all that, his favorite role was being "Pappy," and his grandchildren adored him. He planned amazing experiences to share with them…hang-gliding over sand dunes in Outer Banks, white-water rafting in PA, swimming with dolphins in the Bahamas, ziplining in the treetops, just to name a few. Holland was predeceased by his wife, Carolyn, and is survived by daughters, Sherry and Kara of Dallas, Kimberly and son-in-law John with grandchildren Cooper, Perri, and Peyton of Connecticut. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.