Macy Lavina Brown

Macy Lavina Kinter Brown 1922 - 2011 Macy Lavina Kinter Brown passed away on April 16, 2011 in Salem, Oregon. Macy was born March 16, 1922 in Buhl. Coming from a family of schoolteachers, she was determined to go to school as early as possible. She started first grade at age 5 and later skipped a grade, graduating from high school at 16. She earned an associate degree at Albion State Normal School. During World War II, she and a friend went to San Francisco, where Macy briefly did secretarial work for McDonnell Aircraft. Returning again to Idaho, she taught school in Ketchum and then in Kellogg. Living in a teachers' boarding house in Kellogg, Macy joined an informal contest the young women had devised: the winner would be the first one to get a date with one of the handsome Brown boys, three of whom were working at the Sunshine/Bunker Hill mines. Macy won. She married Douglas W. Brown on New Year's Eve in 1946. The newlyweds lived in Boise, where their first child, Mona, was born in 1948. Soon the family moved to Pocatello, where Douglas began a 30-plus year career with Idaho Power. Two more daughters, Valerie and Cynthia, were born there. Once they were in grade school, Macy went back to teaching. She also completed a bachelor's degree in education at Idaho State University. She taught at Tendoy, Washington, and Chubbuck elementary schools. A lover of classical music, Macy made sure her daughters had piano lessons, and she sang soprano in the First Presbyterian Church choir and the Camerata Singers for many years. When Douglas retired, he and Macy moved to Boise, where Macy was a substitute teacher. She and Doug spent many enjoyable days camping in the Idaho wilderness, particularly in the Owyhees. Macy grew delicious tomatoes and green beans in the back yard. She loved art of all kinds. For several years she taught English to new immigrants, mostly Vietnamese, with whom she forged affectionate bonds. When Douglas died in 2004, Macy moved to Oregon to live with her daughters Cynthia and Valerie, who cared for her at home until her death. Donations in Macy's memory can be made to: Willamette Valley Hospice, ttp://www.wvh.org/index.html Oregon Natural Desert Association, http://onda.org/