Mary Lou Brown

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Mary Lou Brown, 91, of Meadowlark Retirement Community in Manhattan, Kan., and formerly of Nevada, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 9, 2006, in Manhattan. Mrs. Brown was born near Oxford, Miss., on Oct. 13, 1914, to Robert Lee Williams and Vester Catherine Butts Williams. She was married to Robert Brown, a former Nevada High School teacher, who preceded her in death.

Mrs. Brown was employed by Moore's Department Store in Nevada for several years, and then by the Farm and Home Savings and Loan Association as a bookkeeper for almost 25 years. She was a member of the Business and Professional Women's Club and played on the Farm and Home women's bowling team for many years.

After her retirement in 1977, she remained active in the United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women's organization, and the Quester Sunday School class. She was a member of P.E.O. Chapter DW. She also participated in the Friendship Tour group, the Nevada Regional Medical Center Auxiliary, and the Antique Study Club. She enjoyed several trips throughout the continental United States and Hawaii as well as trips abroad to Israel and Great Britain.

Survivors include two daughters, Peggy Dettmer and her husband, Arlen, Alta Vista, Kan., and Nancy Ruggles and her husband, Dr. Dwayne Ruggles, Little Rock, Ark.; four grandsons, Rev. Douglas Dettmer and his wife, Chloe, Thorverton, England, David Dettmer, Austin, Texas, Dr. Scott Ruggles and his wife, Debbie, DePere, Wis., and Mark Ruggles, Denton, Texas; two great-grandsons, Nathaniel and Ethan Ruggles; her twin sister, Madie Sue Motte, Salem, Ore. In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by two brothers and one sister.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., on Friday, Jan. 13, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with the Rev. Ralph Clark officiating. Interment will follow in Moore Cemetery, Nevada. Friends may call now and until the hour of service and the family receives friends 7-8 p.m., Thursday at the Funeral home. Those who wish may contribute to the United Methodist Church in care of Ferry Funeral Home.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com