Mary Alice Brown

Mary Alice was born in Jackson, Minnesota, the 3rd child of Clark Burton Olson and Alice Irene Olson. After completing high school in Windom, Minnesota and attending business school, Mary Alice married Ronald Dean Brown of Lamar, Arkansas on October 27, 1956 in Moses Lake, Washington. Ron was a United States Air Force officer and pilot and Mary Alice became the consummate Air Force wife supporting her husband, maintaining their home, and raising their only child, Matthew Dean Brown. Life in the Air Force took them to numerous places including Washington, Nebraska, South Carolina, France, Arizona, Virginia, and finally to Texas. Her final home of 28 years was Bryan, Texas where they moved in 1995 to be close to Matt and his wife Karlen.

Mary Alice loved Texas A&M and was extremely proud of her Aggies: son Matt ’86, daughter-in-law Karlen ’92, granddaughter Riley ’20 and her husband Witt ‘21, and grandson Garrison ’26. Mary Alice was thrilled to live in Aggieland where she enjoyed some really dear friendships and was so close to her grandkids. She was most passionate about her family and there are not words enough to express what an amazing grandmother she was to her only grandchildren, Riley and Garrison. She was always the most patient, caring, generous, deeply loving and proud grandmother. Mary also loved our military and shared so many great memories and stories of the 24 years Ron served in the Air Force. She was very proud of their son Matt also being a pilot in the Army and was thrilled when granddaughter Riley married Witting James Herman last year, who is also an officer in the United States Marine Corps.

Surviving Mary Alice is her son, Matthew Dean Brown and his wife Karlen Gay of College Station, Texas; granddaughter, Riley Dee (Brown) Herman and her husband Witt; grandson, Garrison Dean Brown, along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws.

Mary Alice was preceded in death by her parents, Clark and Alice Olson; her husband, Ronald Brown; her brother, Milton Larson; and her sister, Janet Osowitz.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the home of Matt and Karlen Brown on Saturday, February 11th at 2:30 p.m. which would have been Mary Alice’s 90th birthday. Contact Matt Brown for details.

Mary Alice always had a special place in her heart for veterans. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Gary Sinise Foundation, https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.memorialfuneralchapel.com for the Brown family.