Mary L. Brown

Mary L. Brown, age 95, of Topeka, passed away at McCrite Plaza, her home for the last six years, on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Mary was the only child of Clark Chubb and Erna Steinkuhler born on December 22, 1927 in Topeka.

Mary graduated from Topeka High School in 1946 and attended the University of Kansas for two years. She married Donald A. Brown on August 28, 1948, after he returned from the Navy. In 2022, Don and Mary celebrated 74 wonderful years of marriage. Together they raised three sons and built their own home across from Lake Shawnee in Topeka.

Don and Mary traveled extensively throughout the U.S., enjoying their retirement together. For many years, they spent winters fishing and beach combing in Florida and Texas, often traveling with family or good friends. In addition, they traveled to Alaska by recreational vehicle twice, driving thousands of miles and making many hours of scenic videos. Mary enjoyed sharing the many trip journals and albums she created.

Mary participated in the Queen of Spades Garden Club. She loved planting and caring for flowers, shaping the acreage on the lakeshore into a beautiful garden that delighted visitors. Mary had been a volunteer with the Topeka YWCA, where she participated in the fundraising and planning for the YWCA building that was constructed in 1976.

Survivors include her husband, Donald, of the home; her sons, Steven Brown and his wife Rhonda, Tecumseh, Kansas; Bryan Brown, Wilsonville, Oregon and Allen Brown and his wife Theresa, Folsom, California. Seven grandchildren also survive, Erin (David) Landreth, Topeka, Kansas; Jared (Bree) Brown, Navarre, Florida; Julie Brown, Topeka, Kansas; Nick (Julie) Brown, Santa Barbara, California; Megan Brown, Redwood City, California; Sydney Brown, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Parker Brown, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Four great grandsons survive, Ethan Brown and Owen Brown, Navarre, Florida and Joshua Brown and Benjamin Brown, Santa Barbara, California.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at Mt. Hope Cemetery, 4700 SW 17th Street, Topeka, KS. The family will receive friends from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, May 9, 2023 at Dove Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota Ave, Topeka, KS.

Memorial contributions may be made to the YWCA Northeast Kansas, 225 SW 12th St., Topeka, Kansas 66612.

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