The Rev. John Clark Brownfield, 69, priest of the Diocese of Northern California, died Jan. 13 after being in failing health for some time.

A native of Fairmont, WV, Fr. Brownfield was a graduate of Hobart College and Bexley Hall. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1959 and to the priesthood in 1960. He assisted at Trinity, Huntington, WV, 1959-62, then moved to Northern California, where he was vicar of Trinity, Sutter Creek, 1962-66; vicar of Our Merciful Savior, Sacramento, 1966-70; assistant at St. Matthew's, Sacramento, 1983-91; associate at All Saints', Sacramento, 1991-98, and associate at St. Michael's, Carmichael, from 1998 to the present. He served in a non-parochial capacity from 1970 to 1983 when he was employed by the State of California. He is survived by his wife, Sandy, of Sacramento, a son, John, of San Jose, CA, a daughter, Kathy Peterson, of Mt. View, WY, and eight grandchildren.