Rory Michael Brown

Rory Michael Brown was a B.C. boy who loved the outdoors and adventure in all its various shapes and sizes. He was born in Prince George, British Columbia on November 26, 1966 but spent most of his life in Kitimat, British Columbia. He grew up skiing, snowmobiling, racing and playing "tree tag". He worked as an electrician at Rio-Tinto Alcan and over the years ran a number of different businesses on the side but Rory was the first person to offer help when anyone needed anything. His friends were his family and he had a lot of them. Rory went out of his way for the people in his life. On his last bike trip, when one of the group lost their phone on the side of the road, in true Rory style, he got on his Harley and rode back over 40 miles to find it. Rory was also known for his heart and his compassion. He continuously gave people who hurt him another chance, always hoping for a different outcome.

His biggest hero was his grandmother Elizabeth Alice Hawke, who worked a trap line well into her 70s and is still fiercely independent today at 95 years. 

Rory suffered with a disease called Occipital Neuralgia. He was in incredible pain 24-7 but you wouldn't know it. He hid his pain from his friends and family never wanting to burden them; instead he chose to deal with it privately. He tried everything from Botox injections to electrocution to reduce the pain but it never went away.

In 2017, Rory followed his heart to Ontario but he continued to miss the mountains and the "corners" that all riders love. The highlight of each year was the bike trip he took with his friends from B.C. He would pack up his bike and head west for about a month. Rory was a veteran biker who crossed Canada more times than anyone could count. He also taught his spouse, Lori, how to ride and didn’t complain too much when she bought a Harley that was faster than his! 

Rory was loyal to a fault, despised bullies and was a champion of the underdog. One of the causes closest to his heart was an organization called "Guardians of the Children''.  A group of motorcycle enthusiasts dedicated to helping and supporting children who had been abused. When a child called, Rory was always there.

Rory loved animals, particularly dogs and they loved him back. If Rory was at someone’s house and they had a dog, that dog was on Rory’s lap in a matter of minutes, no matter how big or small. Rory combined his two greatest passions when he got an all-black German Shepard puppy and named her Harley.

Rory died doing what he loved... riding. On September 5, 2022 on his way home from an epic ride up and down the U.S. West Coast, Rory died in a bike crash near the Alberta/Saskatchewan border. God is going to have to wait just a little bit longer to give his newest angel his wings, because Rory is going to carve up some curves on the way to Heaven and take a little more rubber off the sides of his tires.

In lieu of flowers or memorial donations, when you see a rider at the side of the road, please stop and offer support in Rory's memory.

Rory's last Essex County ride will be Saturday, October 1, 2022 departing from the CMC017 Clubhouse at Walker Road and North Talbot Road, Windsor, Ontario. Kickstands up at 1:30 p.m. The ride will end at the Moose Lodge at 777 Tecumseh Road West, Windsor, Ontario where we will lift a glass to "Redneck".