Marilou Diemer Brown was born on April 9, 1933 in Montrose, Colorado, the only child of Harold A. and Christine A. Diemer, owners of a local bank. She was active as a youth, playing with her many cousins, and spending time learning to play the piano at her house, ride horseback on her family’s ranch near Telluride, snow ski at Dallas Divide, swim in Ouray and dance at the high school. All of her primary and secondary education was completed in the Montrose public schools. She attended Colorado College and then finished her college degree in Education at Colorado State in Fort Collins.
She then moved to Boulder and married Ronald Brown. She had two children that she adored, Robert and Patrick. Ever the supportive wife, Marilou followed her husband through his career with several universities. They stayed in Boulder for six years while Ron worked at the University of Colorado. The family then moved to Salzburg, Austria where Ron worked as an administrator for the Salzburg Seminar in American Studies. They lived in a palace called Schloss Leopoldskron, and traveled extensively through Europe. After one and a half years, the family returned to Boulder and the University of Colorado for two years.
The family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1967. Marilou worked full time as a schoolteacher in the small nearby community of Dexter, teaching history and geography, supporting the family while Ron pursued his PhD from the University of Michigan. A consummate mother, she was very supportive of her children, taking them to school, church, baseball and basketball practices, scouting events, and swimming and fencing lessons. She also worked as a substitute schoolteacher in the Ann Arbor school system for a year.
In 1971, the family moved to Austin, Texas as Ron took a position at the University of Texas as the Vice President for Student Affairs. Marilou and Ron spent many weekends going to football games, alumni banquets, graduations and many other social events at the University of Texas. They met many people, including Presidents and Governors. They were often seen eating at the Headliner’s Club and Tarry House where they were members. They loved entertaining, and hosted many events in their home for faculty, staff and students. For many years they had a Christmas Eve party cherished by many.
She was very active in organizations. Marilou was the President of the University Ladies Club. She was also involved with the Settlement Club, and their annual garage sale. She volunteered for Reading is Fun and was also a very regular attendee of the church services at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd.
In the 1980’s, Marilou and Ron invested in a flower shop, Botany Bay. They also invested much of their time, as well. Marilou spent many hours working as a receptionist, salesman and bookkeeper.
Marilou and Ron traveled extensively, and went on trips with their family and served as guides with the Traveling Longhorns. They traveled together to Peru, Russia, Iran, India, Greece, Spain, Italy, England and France, as well as many other countries.
Marilou enjoyed fine wines and dining, artwork, music, flowers, her family and many friends, learning, traveling and a good conversation.
She died peacefully in her sleep on January 8, 2011 at home. She was surrounded by the things she loved: her home, her children and grandchildren, her flowers and artwork and pictures of faraway places she had visited.
Marilou is survived by her son Robert Brown and wife Patricia Gervan-Brown, and children Alec and Shealynn. She is also survived by her other son Patrick and his wife Donna, and their children Ian, Brendon and Kathryn.
The family wishes to thank the devoted service of her two caregivers for the last years of her life, Freda Holmes and Sandra Delgado.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 North Lamar.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 3201 Windsor Rd.
For those desiring, memorials can be made to: Colorado College, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest, or to the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System for the use and benefit of the Ronald M. and Marilou D. Brown University Scholarship Fund.
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