The Sage Informer

“The fire and drive he had to keep wanting to be better…was the biggest thing I remember.”

-Coach Andy Moore

Monticello high school students paused the school day on Thursday, August 24th to honor Lance Cpl. Evan C Brown, who was a 2021 MHS graduate. Students lined Kratz Rd. to show respect as his funeral procession passed MHS on its way to Monticello Township Cemetery with Military Rites. 

In memory of Evan, many stepped forward and shared their favorite moments with him to express the pure love and joy he brought into their lives.

While attending MHS, Evan was an active student, devoting himself to band all four years. MHS band teacher Mrs. Allender said, “Evan was a kind and gentle soul. I have many great memories but I will share a couple that popped into my mind first. The first was the year that our pep band was invited to be the pep band at the men’s Illini basketball game. I was taking suggestions for songs to buy and he really wanted to play “Take on Me” by A-ha. He lobbied hard and convinced the band that was one of the songs we would get. Whenever I hear that song, I think of him.” 

Brown also participated in wrestling during his high school career. Coach Moore, Evan’s health teacher and wrestling coach, noted, “My best memories were just more so the character that he had. In wrestling, he came in [and] didn’t know the sport, didn’t know what he was doing, but for me as a coach, it was how inquisitive he was about learning the sport and how he was always paying attention and always working hard and trying to accomplish whatever skill or technique we were trying to develop…He was one of the more coachable kids I have ever had…he started off timid of himself, but he had some other wrestlers take him under his wing and he started to come out of his shell a little bit and started becoming a little outgoing. The fire and drive he had to keep wanting to be better…was the biggest thing I remember.” 

Several students and some faculty were at high school with Evan Brown. Miss Boman, who went to school with Evan, talked about her time with him, saying, “When I was in high school, I was in chemistry with Evan as a junior. I was super shy and didn’t know what was going on and didn’t know a way to ask for help. [So I asked him,] ‘Evan do you know what’s going on?’ [He offered to ask for me, and from then on], anytime after we had learned something, he would look at me like, ‘Do you want me to ask?’ He didn’t care what people thought, [and] he would raise his hand and ask for me. He wouldn’t rat me out for not knowing. Probably one of the sweetest people I ever met.” 

Even after his graduation, Evan Brown still made an impact on the lives of those in Monticello. Coach Moore shared, “[Evan] made comments at me saying Marines were the best just to jab at me but it was one of those things. He had his mind made up that he wanted to be a Marine and then became a Marine and then he was progressing through the different ranks. From what I am told he was doing a good job, and everybody liked him. He is just a very likable kid.” 

“The last time I saw him we were with a big group of people, and I took everybody home. I took him home and a half hour later, I got a call from him. [He said,] ‘Thanks so much for taking me home. It was so nice to see you.’ And that was right before he left to go to Japan. That was one of my favorite memories,” Boman said.

Mrs. Allender added, “I ran into him after he graduated. He was already in the Marines at this time and was back visiting. I remember thinking how confident, proud and grown up he seemed. It made me happy.”

https://www.mackey-wrightfuneralhome.com/obituary/lance-cpl-evan-brown

Charlie Ball, Staff Writer

balch24@sages.us