Annette "Neatsie" Brown Laswell

Annette was born March 19th, 1939 in Dallas, Texas and was the youngest child of Richard O. Brown and Ola Mae (Buchanan) Brown. Annette had three older siblings, Ed, Robert and LaVerne. Annette suffered the loss of her brother Robert in 1950, during the early days of the Korean War.

Annette, called “Neatsie” by her friends, graduated from North Dallas High School in 1957 and was known for her accomplished typing and secretarial skills, which resulted in her being awarded a scholarship to a secretarial school. She married her high school sweetheart and forever husband, Jesse Craddock Laswell, Jr., called “Jerry” by all, later that same year on November 16th, 1957. Annette and Jerry met on a blind date while Annette was in High School, and they were married for almost 56 years, until Jerry’s passing in 2013.

During the late 50's and 60's, Annette worked and supported the young couple while Jerry studied and earned his degrees at SMU and New York University. With very little money and a brand new 1960 Chevy, Annette moved with Jerry to New Jersey where he earned his Masters Degree from NYU in 1962. During that same year, Annette gave birth to the couple’s first son, Scott. The couple returned to Dallas in 1963, and Annette gave birth to the couple’s second son Brian in 1968. It was during this time that they decided that Annette would forgo her career and focus solely on the raising of her two boys and creating a happy and healthy home life for her family.

From 1974 until 1987, Annette and her family resided in Owensboro, Kentucky and Columbia, Maryland before returning to the Dallas area. They settled in Garland in 1987, where they remained for the rest of their lives while supporting and spending time with family, maintaining and making new friends and antiquing with her husband Jerry.

Always putting her family first, she was a devoted wife, doting and protective mother, an understanding sister and a loving and supportive daughter. Her tender heartedness and warm friendly personality will greatly be missed by all.

Annette is survived by her two sons, Brian and Scott, three granddaughters, and seven great grandchildren.