Ernest "Fingers" Brown, 87, died Thursday, December 28, 2023, at the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative Care in Lebanon.

Ernie was born August 19, 1936, in Windsor, VT, a son of George and Beatrice (LaBombard) Brown. He grew up the second of eight children in the South End of White River Jct. After his schooling at Hartford High School, he served as a medic in the US Army, including time in Germany. While in the military, he learned to play the bass violin that he would play and be identified with for the rest of his life. Following his honorable discharge, he returned home to White River Jct., and was married to Brenda Smith for a time. He began playing the bass at weddings and local clubs, including Teddy's Bar & Grill in White River Jct., finding day work here and there. He later moved to Springfield, MA where he teamed up with a pianist and played seven nights a week, growing calluses on his fingers that were hard as a bone and earning the name 'fingers'. Ernie played in Springfield for several years before returning to the Upper Valley and met the love of his life, Cheryl Hebert, to whom he was married for many years. Ernie continued to play music for the rest of his life, but began working full-time as a custodian at Dartmouth College, where he worked until retirement. Ernie could often be found playing his bass on the step of his house on South Main Street in West Lebanon or out of the back of his van anywhere around the Upper Valley. Ernie has been living at Roger's House in Lebanon for the past few years.

Ernie was not only musically talented but was very personable as well. He never met a stranger, as he could, and would, talk to anyone he happened upon. There was never any pretension with Ernie, he told it as it was and as he was and made friends with everyone he met. All who knew him will also remember Ernie was an avid  lifelong New York Yankees fan.

He is survived by his children, Matt Smith, Sr. of Bradenton, FL, Katrina Brown of Leesburg, FL, Annette Dauphinais of Claremont, NH; step children Randy Smith, Rob Hebert and Jodi Hebert; grandchildren, Josh, Noah, Amanda, Patrick, Joey, Brandon, James and Matt Jr., several great-grandchildren; sisters, Joan Ducharme of White River Jct., Dorothy Aloisio of Plainfield, NH, Gloria Parisi of Edmond, OK, Shirley Clements of White River Jct.; brother, "Downtown" Bill Brown of White River Jct., , and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a sister, Cynthia Prior and a brother, Robert Brown.

A celebration of life for Ernie will be held at a date to be announced when the weather is nicer