Anne Louisa Brown

Wednesday, 20 May 2020

Mom passed away peacefully in her sleep at the Coquihalla/Gillis house with her daughters, Linda and Devey, by her side.

She is survived by one son, Donald Brown (Arlene), and her two daughters, Linda A. Brown (Ken) and Devey DeJong (Conrad), along with 16 Grandchildren; Mike VanRoosbroeck (Lisa), Alana Natomagan, Shaun Brown (Tammy), Dan Brown (Tammy), Anna Brown (Doug), Carrie Wallace, Daniel Jackson, Mark Brown (Jenny), Erin Schaefer (Rob), Tanya Desaulniers, Tina Brown (John), Tim Pearson (Sarah), Jennifer Turmel (Randy), Sara Brown (Rebecca), Devon Brown, and Michelle Brown (Adam).

She has 32 great grandchildren; Kayla & Emily VanRoosbroeck, Baillie McAlpine, Soraya, Sierra, Rilan & Noel Natomagen, Shaelyn Nelson, Nick Hogue, Madison Brown, Taylor & Kelsey Brown, Kyle Kitchen, Tracy Wilkinson, Briar McNaney, Bryson & Shadin McClure, Matthew, Justin, Hannah & Ryker Brown, Abby Schaefer, Chantal, Cassidy & Cienna Desaulniers, Zaine McInnis, Leah, Samuel, Lilly & Lorelei Pearson, Billie Campbell, and numerous step-grandchildren. 1 great-great grandchild; Charolette Rey Desaulniers, and 2 great-great step-grandchildren.

She is predeceased by her husband, Melvin Leroy (Roy) Brown and two of her sons, Larry (Suzanne) and Bill (Greta) and all four of her siblings.

Anne was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec where she met Roy while he was on leave from the Navy. They fell in love and as the saying goes, the rest is history! They moved to Armstrong, BC where they started their lives together later moving around the Central Interior of BC in Field, Chase and to Adams Lake before settling in Merritt in 1956, where they started ML Brown Lumber, Ltd.

They had three sons and two daughters and worked together sharing the responsibility of business and family life, right up to the end. Many of her sons and grandsons worked in the family business.

Over the years, Mom and Dad enjoyed over 40 trips to Hawaii, and each time, shared that experience with their children and grandchildren.

Mom will always be remembered for her strength of character, her generosity, and her wit. She was a great wife, mother, and sister and leaves behind a legacy of hard work and love of family. She will be dearly missed, but never forgotten!

Over the last few years of her life, she was looked after by her two daughters and daughter-in-law. We cherished our final years together.

We thank Dr. McLeod for the many years of care that he gave to both Mom and Dad, and the staff at Coquihalla/Gillis house who were wonderful to her in her last few weeks of life.

No service is being held at Mom’s request. She has been cremated. The family held a celebration of life at her granddaughter, Anna Brown’s home on Saturday, May 23rd. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her memory to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 189, or the Kidney Foundation of BC.