Marshall Brown (lovingly referred to by his family as "Brownie") was born and raised in San Francisco and was a long-term resident of Seattle, where he passed away due to complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was 73 years old.

A 1966 George Washington High School graduate, Marshall studied journalism at Western Washington University, in Bellingham. He joined the US Air Force in March 1971, and was stationed at Incirlik Air Base, in Adana, Turkey; and Rhein-Main Air Base, in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany, where he prepared aircraft loads for departure and arrival.
After separating from the Air Force in 1975, Brownie and his long-term partner, Frank, departed on a months-long trip around the world, before settling in Seattle.

Marshall was a dedicated family man. He was a beloved son, brother, cousin, and uncle, and a trusted friend. He enjoyed organized bicycling races and rides, baseball, and football. He was a dyed-in-the-wool Seattle Seahawks and Mariners fan (except when Seattle was playing San Francisco!).

He also cherished his 34-year relationship with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and working with other Friends of Bill W.

Brownie leaves behind his sister Marsha Singh, nephew Ajay Singh, niece Asha Thompson, brother Peter Brown, sister-in-law Cathleen Brown, nephew James Brown, brother Garry Brown, sister-in-law Susan Brown, nieces Diana Summers and Christina Robichaux, cousins Marion and Charles Yadon, and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews.

Marshall was preceded in death by his father, James Marshall Brown, and by his mother, Mary Moody Brown.