There are black bows crossing the doors at the Lawrence County Sheriff’s office today, very visible symbols of a department in mourning.

Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard Ray “Dick” Brown died Saturday at King’s Daughters Medical Center. He was 60 years old. In addition to his years of service as a deputy, Brown also worked in security at Ironton Municipal Court and was retired as a corrections officer at the Federal Correctional Institute in Summit, Ky.

Colleagues at the sheriff’s office remembered him as a congenial guy who worked hard and laughed a lot.

“He was just a good-natured guy and he jested all the time,” Deputy Julia Jones said. “He was a hard worker and a wonderful husband to his wife, Sue. There’s just so much you could say about him.”

Deputy Carol Kitts was frank. “I’ve lost my best buddy,” she said.

Deputy Jeff Rood described him as a good guy who knew what he was doing and was willing to share his expertise in corrections and law enforcement with the younger guys. And he was kind.

“Dick took his job very seriously,” Rood said. “He took his prison ethics and brought them here. He’d do anything in the world for you, give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. There’s not a person in this county, I think that would have a bad word to say about him.”

Mary Ann Hunt, sheriff’s office clerk, said Brown was a pleasure to work with.

“He was always jolly and willing to help,” she recalled.

Even his bosses liked him.

“He was a great guy. You never saw him upset or angry at anyone. He was always level-headed. It was a pleasure to have known him,” Sheriff Jeff Lawless said. Rob Van Keuren, chief of security and probation for Ironton Municipal Court, said it would not be the same without him.

“He brought a special something to the workplace. Everyone who worked with him is going to miss him,” Van Keuren said.

Brown leaves behind hid wife, Sue, his mother, Ethel Abrams of Jackson, two children and five grandchildren.

The funeral will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Tracy Brammer Funeral Home. He will be buried in Woodland Cemetery.