BERNE — Randy L. Brown loved his daughters and was always the loudest fan at their soccer and basketball games, said Heather Crockett, his older daughter. He died on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, at age 65.

Mr. Brown was born on May 18, 1952 in Schenectady’s Bellevue Hospital to the late Francis and Beatrice (née Easton) Brown and raised in Duanesburg.

He was born prematurely, but grew to a height of 6 feet, 2 inches, Mrs. Crockett said.

After graduating from Duanesburg High School in 1970, he studied political science at Schenectady County Community College before being drafted into the Navy, at the end of the draft, in 1973. He traveled widely during his five years with the Navy, including to Egypt, Greece, and Italy, his daughter said.

He married Patty Ryan (who has since remarried and is now Patty Aldrich), and together they built a home in East Berne where they raised two daughters, Mrs. Crockett and Leanne Royer.

Mr. Brown worked at Watervliet Arsenal, first as a machinist and then as a quality-control officer.

He took early retirement and then worked as a school-bus driver, first for the Niskayuna schools for many years and then for North Colonie.

Mr. Brown was a Mason and a member at the Berne Lodge 684 Free & Accepted Masons.

He had recently joined the American Legion Post 977 Helderberg in Altamont. He loved to ride motorcycles, and owned a few, including a Harley and a Yamaha, his daughter said.

Mr. Brown taught Mrs. Crockett to drive a standard shift, on his “favorite car of all time,” she said, a Thunderbird Turbo Coupe.

“I was very privileged to drive it,” she said. “That was his baby.”

Mrs. Crockett said that Mr. Brown had “his own unique style.”

His interests included exploring Native American traditional culture and attending the Scottish Games at the Altamont fairgrounds, which he did every year, Mrs. Crockett said.

He joined Facebook about a year-and-a-half ago, his daughter said, and enjoyed reconnecting with old friends from high school and with shipmates from his Navy days.

He loved spending time with his two Rottweiler mixes, Brandy and Lexi. “They kept him active, taking walks,” she said.

The family enjoyed taking trips together every year, including to Pulaski, New York every Thanksgiving to visit Mr. Brown’s brother and his large family. “We got snowed in so many times, going up there,” recalled Mrs. Crockett. The family also traveled somewhere every summer, often to Lake Placid.

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Randy L. Brown is survived by his daughters, Heather Crockett and her husband, Kevin, and Leanne Royer and her husband, Jeremy, and by his five grandchildren, Amanda, Nolan, Isabella, Alissa, and Weston.

He is also survived by his brother, Ronnie Brown, and his wife, Carmi; and by his sister, Marlene Williams, and her husband, John.

In addition, he is survived by his close friend — “re referred to her as his BFF,” said Mrs. Crockett — Deb Shafarzek, and her husband, Carl, of Rotterdam.

His parents, Francis and Beatrice (née Easton) Brown, died before him.

A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, Dec. 31, from noon to 5 p.m. at the American Legion Post 977 Helderberg in Altamont.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion Post 977 Helderberg, 988 Altamont Blvd, Altamont, NY 12009 or to the Community Hospice Inn, 315 South Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12208.

— Elizabeth Floyd Mair