Fa'aluatele Vaifoa Lio Tamasepani Brown

We are honored to share the life story of Fa'aluatele Vaifoa Lio Tamasepani Brown of West Jordan, Utah who died peacefully in his home with his wife To'a by his bedside at the age of 90 yrs. old in West Jordan, UT on Wednesday April 25th, 2012 of a well-used and worn out physical body that could no longer keep up with his young, strong-willed, energetic soul.
Vaifoa was born October 15th, 1921 in Malie, Upolu Western Samoa of goodly parents, Lio Tuipala Brown of Malie, Upolu and Lili Leauga Leota of Gautavai, Savaii who were Mormon pioneers in Samoa instilling many gospel teachings and lineal traits that continue in his legacy.
His siblings by oldest to youngest are: Brother Alema (deceased ) @ birth, Sister Aiulu Peterson (deceased) in 1992, Brother Leveta (deceased) @ 4 yrs. old, Sister Fa'afili Lealaitafea (deceased) in 2003, Brother Aloiana (deceased) @ 4 months old, Sister Sigalu Solipo (living), Brother Tiloi (living), Brother Siliva (deceased) 1999, Brother Teleni (deceased) 2012.
Vaifoa lived most of his youth and teenage years with Eti & Togiva Te'o in American Samoa, was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on August 3rd, 1930 in Sauniatu, attended several schools, namely: Falela (1927), Sauniatu (1935), Mapusaga Fou (1936), Leone (1937), graduating from Poyer Junior High School in American Samoa as the male "Letter of Recommendation" recipient for his graduating class. He was a member of the first Boy Scouts troop in American Samoa where he played his horn for the very first flag ceremony... another proud milestone noted in his journal that his father Lio was very proud of.
He later moved to Auckland, New Zealand where he was called to serve a Labor Mission for the New Zealand Construction Program. Music was his passion as he played many instruments including the guitar, ukulele, trumpet and other brass instruments but his favorite was his saxophone. He played with many swing bands to marching bands throughout his young single adult years and later loved to write, teach and intensely conduct music in various ward church choirs.
He met his wife while an usher in church showing a beautiful young new convert 23 years younger than him to her seat, later dating and marrying her in the Hamilton, New Zealand Temple for time and eternity at the age of 44 years old to Taufaito'a Posiulai Tanuvasa of Nofoali'i, daughter of the late Petelo Tanuvasa of Nofoali'i and So'onalote Asi of Mo'ota'a, Upolu Western Samoa. Dad always looked and lived like he was 20 years younger than his age until about 3 years ago when he suffered a stroke in Provo, Utah. His first two daughters, Simalu Vaifoa Brown and Atoaaana Brown were born in Auckland, New Zealand. While the family was moving from New Zealand to Hawaii the oldest son, Nuuuli Lio Vaifoa Brown was born in Nuuuli, American Samoa. In Laie Margaret Vaifoa Brown died at birth in the Kahuku Hospital. They then moved to San Bruno San Francisco area in 1970 and stayed again with Eti and Togiva Te'o before moving on to Independence, Missouri joining the movement at the time to move to Zion where Togiva Vaifoa Brown was born and another daughter, To'a Vaifoa Brown died at birth. Years later they returned again to Laie where his last three sons were born... Vaifoa Lio Brown Jr., Manaia Vaifoa Brown and Tamasepani Vaifoa Brown. Dad was big on genealogy and wanted there to be no doubt who our father was so we were all blessed with his first name.
On April 27th, 1969 he was ordained to the office of a Seventy by Bruce R. McConkie in Laie, Hawaii. The Seventy's Group was in charge of missionary work for the church and dad truly magnified his calling with his missionary work throughout his lifetime. Later the Seventy's Groups at the ward level were discontinued but he continued many years as a ward mission leader or ward missionary as well as many various callings including being an ordinance worker in the Laie, Hawaii, Salt Lake and West Jordan, Utah Temples. While in Laie he worked as custodian to all three church buildings and for BYU Hawaii later retiring before moving again to some other cities of residence including Lynwood, California and Portland, Oregon.
He loved gardening and was an avid recycler before it was cool to recycle because he hated to see waste, always giving back to the earth by burying biodegradable trash in the back yard... something we thought he was crazy for but are now being taught to be eco-friendly, recycle and to compost, do everything dad did. Being an hour early and the last one to leave was another trait, always cleaning, cleaning, and cleaning. At home you would often see him studying his scriptures for hours. Known in his household for his temper and tone in his voice, our first book we learned to read from was the Book of Mormon getting yelled at for not being able to read a word at the age of 7, reading the whole Book of Mormon at the age of 8 through nightly family prayers that often lasted until 11:00 or later.
Receiving his matai alii title of Fa'aluatele from Maualaivao Nelu of Malie, Upolu is another milestone of his. A loyal BYU fan, he took great pride in his son graduating from and playing football for BYU Provo. He loved just relaxing in the company of his family and listening to the laughter in the room. Always finding something to keep him busy until he suffered from a stroke three years ago and started looking his age and though his body was no longer able to keep up, his soul remained strong and healthy until the day he died with his family urging him that it is time to rest.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, sister Sigalu, brother Tiloi, hundreds of nephews, nieces and a legacy of 7 children and 23 grandchildren listed as follows: a€¢ Simalu & Shederlaomach Alofipo: Ariana, Tiara, Macky, Lesa, Sydney, To'a & Amy a€¢ Atoa (single & available) a€¢ Lio & Miline Reupena a€¢ Togiva & Iosua Naea (divorced): Junniva & Tana Deason, JJ, Tinei, Jeremiah & Timena a€¢ Vaifoa Jr. & Kale Aiono: Kaliyah, Dallas, Kaydence, Malosi, & Samoa a€¢ Manaia & Tupusina Schwenke: Manaia, Taimane, Laker & Talei a€¢ Pani & Daisy Saena: Pani Boy, Neveah & Taunu'u
A family memorial service and viewing will be held on Wednesday, May 2nd 2012 at the LDS Chapel Midvalley Samoan 2nd Ward building located at 1106 East, 8050 South, Midvale, UT 84047 from 9:00am to 11:00am followed by a funeral service at 12:00.