Kathryn Colleen Brown, 82, Lee’s Summit, MO, formerly of Marshall, MO, died at home on December 16, 2020, surrounded by her loving family. Colleen was born August 3rd, 1938, in Kansas City, Missouri; the daughter of James Ervin ‘Mike” Oden and Sarah Louella “Tootie” Oden.
Colleen spent much of her youth in Hale, Missouri and was a Class of 1956 graduate of Hale High School. On December 29, 1957 after three years of dating, she married her high school sweetheart, William Norvelle “Brownie” Brown. The two built a wonderful life together on a foundation of family, community and a strong work ethic in Marshall, Missouri and were married for 63 years. She always called him ‘The Love of My Life” and he can still vividly recount the day he first laid eyes on her in the sixth grade and the pretty blue dress she was wearing.
Colleen & Brownie were residents of Marshall for 50 years until moving to Lee’s Summit, Missouri in 2013 to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
Colleen is remembered by many for operating the motor vehicle fee office for the Missouri Department of Revenue from early 1981 to early 1993 and later as the administrator of the Georgia Brown Blosser Home before retirement from the workforce. Prior to that, she worked for the Marshall Public Schools in the high school cafeteria and as administrative support in the superintendent’s office.
Colleen was noted for her fabulous cooking much to the pleasure of her family and the friends of her children. “Mrs. Brown’s cinnamon rolls are the best ever” has been said by many who had the opportunity to sample her wares at the Brown home on Odell Avenue and her family always knew that Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners would be unbelievably sumptuous. She was also known for her loving support of her husband, her soulmate without question, and for being a doting mother and supporting all her children’s school activities.
She is survived by husband Brownie, of the home in Lee’s Summit, MO, a daughter Kristina Lynn Lawson of Owasso, OK; two sons William Harry “Bill” Brown (Tammy) of Lee’s Summit, MO and Robert Lee “Bob” Brown (Cathy) of Carthage, MO; seven grandchildren, Christopher (Nicole) Brown of Springfield, Joshua Brown of Carthage, Zachary (Megan) Brown of Greenwood, Brittany (Daniel) Lemanowicz of Lee’s Summit, Tara Colleen (Tyler) Markham of Owasso, OK, Alli Lawson and Kayley Lawson of Owasso, OK; five great grand-children, Sadie and Levi Brown of Greenwood, Gabe, Riley Colleen & Aedan Markham of Owasso, OK and Baron Brown of Springfield, MO; a sister Joyce Figg of Marshall, MO and brothers Michael Oden of Branson, MO and James Oden (Karen) of Belton, MO and many nieces and nephews. Colleen was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Sue Oden.
Celebration services for Colleen will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 23, 2020, at Campbell-Lewis Chapel in Marshall, MO. Memorials are suggested to the Kansas City Hospice or the Make a Wish Foundation. There will be no visitation but friends may stop by the funeral home from 8:00 to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 22, to sign the register book and pay their respects or sign the online register book at www.campbelllewis.com. Following the celebration of Colleen’s life, the family will have a private burial service in Hale, MO.