McMinnville resident and Warren County native Joe Bratten Brown, 81, died April 3 at Alvin C. York VA Medical Center in Murfreesboro after an extended illness.A retired truck driver with Central Oil and a U.S. Army veteran, he was the son of the late George L. and Mary Emma Bratten Brown, and was preceded in death by brothers, Donald and George Lee Brown Jr., and sisters Sharon Hayes and Ruth Prater.He is survived by brother and sister-in-law, Larry Wayne and Mary Brown of McMinnville; nieces, Lisa and Jim Weismore of McMinnville, Allison and Arthur Walker of Athens; nephews, David and Lori Brown of McMinnville, Jeffery and Stephanie Hayes of Manchester; great-nieces, Candice, Brittany, Ashlyn, Gabrielle and Alyiah; great-nephews, Cole, Dillon, Travis, Austin, Treyton, Arthur Jr., and Sinnigan; and special friend, Wanda Brown.Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. today at High’s Chapel with Herbert E. Alsup officiating. Burial will follow at Brick House Cemetery with military graveside rites by VFW Post 5064 and American Legion Post 173. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until time of service today at High’s.High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.) April 6, 2012