Janet Westervelt Brown

Jan was born on November 30, 1948 in Corpus Christi, TX to George Conrad Westervelt II and Nita Winifred Cobb Westervelt. Jan’s remarkable intelligence, sense of humor, and resourcefulness were evident from an early age, like when, at age 9, she sold her younger sister Joan and younger brother Buz her 1/3 interest in the family’s parakeet, “Freddy,” to avoid having to clean its cage. In later years, her intellectual prowess paid dividends beyond playful sibling swindles. She graduated #6 in the 1966 class at W.B. Ray High School, she was a National Merit Scholar, and she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, with degrees in Government and Economics and a teaching certificate.

During her time at Southwestern, her love story with her husband, John Randolph Brown, began. She and John first met in 1962 at Mt. Wesley Methodist Camp in Kerrville, TX, and—setting the stage for their lifetime of travel and adventures together—young love sparked on a Methodist Youth Fellowship trip to Washington, D.C. in 1965, where they met and were photographed in the White House with LBJ. By their sophomore year in college, John and Jan only had eyes for each other, and they routinely traveled between Georgetown and Austin, TX, where John studied architecture at the University of Texas. In 1970, Jan took a job in Austin with the Lower Colorado River Authority while John finished his architecture studies. John and Jan were married on June 10, 1972 at the First United Methodist Church in Corpus Christi. After John finished school, they moved to Corpus Christi, where Jan took a job with Central Power and Light.

After a move to Dallas in 1977, their first son, John Ryan Brown, was born in 1978, and their second son, Travis Michael Brown, was born in 1980. Jan then stayed home and took great joy in raising her two sons. She raised and disciplined her boys with the same patience, love, and intelligence that defined the rest of her life. She explained, instead of chastising, taught, instead of punishing, and could correct almost any misbehavior with those five calmly-spoken words, “I am disappointed in you.” Nobody, especially her sons, wanted to disappoint Jan because she was so unfailingly good.

No matter her occupation, Jan was a life-long teacher and a quick study. She served as the White Rock Elementary PTA Vice-President and was engaged in her sons’ scouting, first as a den-mother and pack leader in Cub Scout Pack 891 and as an active volunteer for Boy Scout Troop 890. As the boys advanced in school, Jan volunteered at the first computer lab at White Rock Elementary. After a year there, she took on the full-time challenge of opening the first computer lab at Merriman Park Elementary, where she taught for many years. In recognition of her life of service to youth, she received the United Methodist Church Cross and Flame Award.

Jan was an active member of her church and local community. Jan joined Highland Park United Methodist Church in 1977, where she was a dedicated member of many Bible study groups, the “Good News” Sunday School Class, and Methodist Women’s Circle 18.

Jan was accomplished at needlework, and she joyfully added to her massive Santa Claus collection each year. She was a voracious reader with a photographic memory, who could read an entire novel on her lunch break. Jan loved chocolate and was famous for her amazing peanut brittle and “Texas trash.” Her greatest passion, though, was traveling with John. Jan and John shared a true love of seeing the world and travelled to over 25 countries during their life together.

Jan courageously fought a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis with dignity, a smile on her face, her sweet disposition, and never a complaint. She was a supportive and kind role model as a big sister, a caring daughter, and a loving and patient mother to two rowdy boys. She delighted in her sons and grandchildren and was a devoted and adoring wife. Jan lived life to the fullest and was able to continue that thanks to the care and dedication of her beloved husband. Jan and John shared a marriage of great love, devotion, and grand adventures.

Jan is preceded in death by her parents, Nita Cobb Westervelt and George Conrad Westervelt. She is survived by her husband, John Randolph Brown, son John Ryan Brown (Lindsey), son Travis Michael Brown (Andrea), and her grandchildren Cullum Thompson Brown, McCoy Brooks Brown, Bishop Landrum Brown, Halle Ruth Brown, and Timothy John Brown, and her siblings Joan Macferran and George (“Buz”) Westervelt.

Donations in Jan’s memory can be sent to National MS Society or the Music Ministry at HPUMC.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 9th at 10:00am at Highland Park United Methodist Church.