Born June 18, 1927, to Walter and Kate McGaha she was the second of twin girls. Marye went to be with her Lord and Savior on September 10, 2022. At 95 years of age Marye was a life-long Christian and a minister’s wife. She followed her husband from church to church throughout the South until they were called to Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Once they retired, they returned to Birmingham, Alabama, Marye’s family home. In 2013, they made the decision to move to Oklahoma to be closer to Ben, Pam and the grandchildren.
Marye was an accomplished self-taught portrait artist, a talent for which she gave God the glory. Later in her life she developed an essential tremor which made it more and more difficult for her to control her fine motor skills. The exception to this was when she held a paint brush in her hand. She shared her love of painting with her twin sister, Rubye.
Marye was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Kate McGaha, a younger brother, Walter McGaha Jr, and her husband, Richard “Dick” Brown.
She is survived by her twin sister Rubye Bearden, her niece Jan, her nephew Terry, his wife Regina, and Kelly, Connie, and Elizabeth whom she loved with all of her heart. Marye leaves behind a legacy of family that love her and miss her already. Her son, and only child, Ben and his wife Pam of Oklahoma City. Their children and spouses are Bobby Lay and his wife Elena; Chris Lay and his wife Lauren; granddaughter Candace Brown all of Oklahoma City, and former granddaughter in law Heather Blevins and her husband Wes Blevins of Keifer, OK. Marye has seven great grandchildren, plus their significant others: Robby Lay and Ashley Black of Houston, TX; Mikle Lay and Sandy Lay of Jenks, OK; Cameron Lay and Grant Gingrich of Choctaw, OK; Madison Blevins, Jenks, OK; Private Ian Lay, Samantha Marye Brown and Haydn Lay of Oklahoma City, OK. She was also blessed with four beautiful great, great grandchildren: Graysen Lay, Camila Lay, Dominic Lay and Genevieve Gingrich.
Marye was on this earth for 95 years and touched many, many lives along the way before the Lord called her home to be with him. In freeing her from her earthly ailments he has restored her memory and made her whole again. She will live for eternity with the Lord.
A visitation for Marye will be held Saturday, September 17, 2022 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Ridout's Valley Chapel, 1800 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, AL 35209. A graveside service will occur Sunday, September 18, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum, 600 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Birmingham, AL 35211.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ridoutsvalleychapel.com for the Brown family.
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