Patsy Ilene Russell McKinney Brown

Patsy Ilene Russell McKinney Brown passed away January 29, 2017. She was born in San Antonio on March 4, 1925, to John Kenney Russell and Luella Mae Reed. She was preceded in death by her brother, John Kenney Russell, Jr. and husbands, Max Allen McKinney and Lt. Col. Robert Franklin Brown. Pat is survived by her daughters, Susan McKinney Ouellette (Jim) and Amy McKinney Nunnelly (Philip) and son, Michael Allen McKinney (Eunice); 15 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Pat was proud of her heritage. She was a 5th generation Texan, dating back to Austin's Old 300. Pat graduated from John H. Reagan High School in Houston, Texas, class of 1942. At Reagan, she was an officer in the Red Coats. She attended the University of Houston. During WWII Pat worked at the Shell Oil Refinery. In San Antonio, she worked in the banking and insurance industries and The Institute of Texan Cultures. The best way to describe Pat is that she was interested, therefore, interesting. Pat was a volunteer extraordinaire. She served as president of the Friends of the San Antonio Public Library, where she helped to promote the opening of the new main library downtown, as well as the relocation of the Friends' Book Cellar. As a result of her commitment to the library, she was appointed to the Library Board. Pat joined the San Antonio Conservation Society in 1971. She served as a docent at the Steves Homestead for many years. She also chaired one of their food booths at Night In Old San Antonio. In her retirement, she served in various capacities as a member of The Texana Genealogical Friends, The San Antonio Genealogical Historical Society, The Institute of Texan Cultures, Alamo Heights United Methodist Church, The McNay Art Museum, The Witte Museum, The San Antonio Museum of Art, The Hand-Weavers Guild, The Southwest Craft Center, The San Antonio Speech Arts, and The Antique Club. She and her daughter, Susan, were members of the Galveston Historical Foundation, where she volunteered as a docent for its Home Tours and Dickens on the Strand. While raising her children, she was very active in Boy and Girl Scouts, PTA, Booster Club, and PALS. Pat was an avid bridge player, enjoyed musical and theater performances as well as ballroom dancing and traveling. She had a wonderful sense of humor and a willingness to go and do pretty much anything. She touched the lives of many people. She was greatly loved and appreciated by family, friends and associates. Pat will be buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in a private family service. Donations in her memory may be made to The San Antonio Conservation Society or The Friends of The San Antonio Public Library.