She was born February 12, 1930, as the sixth of seven children to Walker and Kittye Burris in Oakdale, La. but lived her childhood in Kinder, La. She graduated from Kinder High School and attended McNeese State University, where she was picked by the movie star, Gregory Peck, to become the top 2 MSU beauty queens in 1948. Stella met Cecil Ray Brown from Oakdale on the commuter bus that carried him to Sowela and her to McNeese in Lake Charles. They would marry in 1949 and live a short time in Franklin, La. before making Lake Charles their home.
While raising her five children, she worked various positions as a payroll clerk with Blount Brothers, Porche Plumbing, and Wilson Motor Company. Stella was a Notary Public and often served others as a contribution to her profession.
Stella was a member of the Eastern Star Chapter #164 in Lake Charles, the First Methodist Church of Lake Charles, and the Swinging Rebels Square Dancing Club. She volunteered many hours in the concession stands selling soft drinks, snacks, and homemade pies to raise money for Mid-City Little League Baseball teams, since her husband was President and her four sons played baseball at Huber Park in Oak Park.
Stella loved helping others in need. She also volunteered to host foster children from the Masonic Home in Alexandria on weekends at their home. She enjoyed visiting her friends and family in their homes on Sundays for coffee with many hours of laughter. Stella always had a contagious smile and an unbelievably positive attitude. In 1983, she followed her husband to Saudi Arabia for three years and was able to meet good friends from all over the world as a result. Sewing was another hobby that she enjoyed so much. Later in life, you could find her on most Friday and Saturday nights enjoying country-western dancing in dance clubs all over SWLA and cheering for her favorite teams: Houston Astros, New Orleans Saints, and LSU Tigers.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Cecil Brown; her 3 sisters, Marthella Zellers, Dorothy Jacobs, and Juanita LaFleur; and her 3 brothers, Mac Burris, Walker Burris, and Clayton Burris; and her favorite fur-baby, Bandy.
Stella is survived by her daughter, Dr. Ginger Brown Basone (Steve), and four sons, Forrest (Letha) Brown, Scott (Krista) Brown, Terry Brown, and Brent (Sharon) Brown; 7 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, a Sister-in-Law (Doris Burris), a Brother-in-Law (Harold LaFleur), and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the Sage Oak Assisted Living (Bldgs. 3 and 4) staff for all of their support, care, and love they gave to Stella over the past 3 years. Who Dat Say Who Dat!
The family will welcome relatives and friends at Hixson Funeral Home of Lake Charles on Thursday, July 11, 2024 beginning at 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The visitation will resume at the funeral home on Friday, July 12, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. until the procession leaves for the church at 9:40 a.m. A funeral service will be held at First United Methodist Church of Lake Charles at 10:00 a.m. A private burial will be held at Oakdale Cemetery immediately following. Rev. Weldon Bares will officiate at the services.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested that contributions be made to the First United Methodist Church of Lake Charles or the Alzheimer's Association.
