Leonard Ray Brown, Magpie (Woh’uh’ei), passed away on July 7, 2025, at Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, Wyoming. He was born on July 22, 1984, in Lander, Wyoming, to Wayland Max Brown and Frances Blackburn.
A Vigil service with a Rosary will be held on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 7:00 PM at Blue Sky Hall in Ethete, followed by a wake at the Brown family residence, 215 Willow Street. A second Vigil service and wake will take place on Friday, July 11, 2025, at 7:00 PM at the Blackburn family residence, 100 C’Hair Lane in Arapahoe, WY. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 12, 2025, at 10:00 AM, at St. Stephen's Catholic Church, with interment to follow at the Arapaho Catholic Cemetery.
Leonard was a proud lifelong resident of the Wind River Indian Reservation. He also lived briefly in Tulsa and Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and Keams Canyon, Arizona. Leonard was deeply spiritual, practicing both Traditional Native American beliefs and Catholicism. He regularly participated in sweat lodge ceremonies and Native American Church activities, exemplifying a life rooted in faith and cultural tradition.
He had a deep love for music, especially rap, and enjoyed attending concerts. Leonard was a devoted Denver Broncos fan, loved professional wrestling, and followed basketball, particularly admiring Kobe Bryant. His adventurous spirit took him traveling often, and he cherished the chance to see new places.
Leonard served his community through his work as a security officer for Northern Arapaho Housing and previously as a custodian for the Shoshoni and Arapaho Early Head Start programs. He was respected for his dedication, work ethic, and warm personality.
He attended St. Stephens Grade School and High School, and later studied at the Tulsa School of Welding, expanding his skills and horizons.
Though he never married, Leonard's memory lives on in the hearts of his family, friends, and all who knew him.
Survivors include his mother, Frances M. Blackburn; Step-father: Virgil Monroe Sr.; Goddaughter, Nadia Stacey; Brothers, Larry Brown Sr., Owen Brown, Virgil Monroe Jr., and Joseph Brokenleg; Adopted brothers, Seth Blackburn and Peter (Homer) Blackburn Jr.; Sisters, Jolynn Brown (Erick Manga), Schaelynn Blackburn (O’Neil Neztsosie), Sholina & daughter Jayda Raye Blackburn; Adopted sisters, Mary and Shereah Blackburn; Aunts, Angela Brown (Godmother) & family, Lucy Camargo, Jane & Raymond Dewey & family, Brenda & Pat Hubbard and family, Nora Antelope, Germaine and Rhonda Shakespeare, Glenda Moss, Margaret, Elsie and Mildred Norse, Monica Antelope, Clara Blackburn, Darlene Bell & family, Eleanor Brown & family, Cora Willow & family, Catherine Trumbull & family, Alrita Talks Different & family, Tillie Jenkins & family, Carol Trumbull, Reva Tillman, Melissa, Jan, and Anita Mahkewa; Uncles, Melvin R. Blackburn & family, Freeman Blackburn & family, Robert Blackburn & family, Kenneth Blackburn Jr. & family, Martin K. Blackburn Sr. & family, Weldon R. Blackburn & family, Bart Molash & family, Ronald Kane Blackburn, Ricky Blackburn Sr. & family, Kevin Brown Sr., Shannon Brown & Family, Dale Brown & Family, Clarence Brown, Harvey Spoonhunter & family, Marlin Spoonhunter & family, Theron Spoonhunter & family; Special Nieces: Aleena Manga, Jessica Brown and Haeley Brown; Nephews, Avery Max Brown, Haesyn T. Brown, Larry Brown, Jr., Avison Manga, Lathem and Liam Neztsosie; Cousins include Raelene Roof and family, Amber Blackburn and family, Tonya Dewey and family, Dallon Dewey and family, Bryson Brown and family, Kevin Brown Jr. and family, Cheryl Blackburn and family, Joseph Blackburn III, Dustin Blackburn, Dylan Blackburn and family, Ian Blackburn and family, Kayla Shakespeare and family, Erikka Blackburn and family, Jennifer Shakespeare and family, Alvin Brown Jr., Solomon Brown and family, Emanuel (Ambrose) Brown and family, Ernest Brown and family, Felicia Brown and family, Challis (Charlie) Brown, Hetty Brown and family, Bonita Bell & family, Francis Bell Jr., Jay Brown, Marilynn (Mac) Brown, Dale (Bo) Brown, Chardale Brown, Jessica Brown, Lavonne Brown, Melva Brown, Mervene Brown, Matthew (Fred) Brown, Shawn Brown and family.; Extended families of Blackburn, Norse, Lujan, Duran, Hanway, Brown, Willow, Trumbull, Spoonhunter, Felter
Mr. Brown was preceded in death by his father, Wayland Max Brown; Grandparents, Lucy and Thomas J Blackburn Sr., George and Nora (Trumbull) Brown, Simon Blackman, Joyce Blackman, Helen Hanway, Anastasia & Johnny Blackburn, Martina Blackbull, Bernice Emarthle, Kenneth J Blackburn Sr., Clina (Brown) & Albert Willow, Irene (Trumbull) & Duane Tillman, Clark & Mollie Trumbull, Buck & Rita Trumbull; Great Grandparents, Pete & Cora (Gambler) Lonebear; Brothers, James Blackburn Sr. and Sterling Blackburn; Uncles, Thomas J Blackburn Jr., Peter (Stoney) Blackburn Sr., Mervin Brown, Alvin Brown Sr., Bradford Brown, Jess Amos; Sisters, Ramona Underwood and Michelle Redcap; Nephew, Joseph Jerome Underwood.
Please forgive us in our time of mourning if we left anybody out, he was loved by many.
On-line obituaries are available and condolences for Leonard’s family may be made at: thedavisfuneralhome.com
Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home of Riverton.