Diane McLeod Brown

Diane McLeod Brown, 88, of Norman, died peacefully at home on November 7, 2025. She was born on November 27, 1936, to Neil McLeod and Irma (Long) McLeod in Akron, N.Y. Diane graduated from the State University of New York Teachers College at Geneseo, N.Y., in 1958, where she majored in education/speech pathology.

She met her husband, Rodger Brown, in high school where they were National Honor Society members. They were married at Akron Methodist Church on June 27, 1959. In 1960 they moved to Chicago, Ill., where Diane worked as a speech pathologist for the Blue Island school system and Rodger began a Ph D program in meteorology at the University of Chicago. Their son Christopher and daughter Elizabeth were born in Blue Island in 1961 and 1963. In 1965 the family moved to Buffalo, N.Y., and another daughter, Katherine, was born in 1967. After a short residence in Boulder, Colo., the family moved to Norman, Okla., in 1970, where Rodger began a long career at the National Severe Storms Laboratory and completed his Ph D at the University of Oklahoma.

After settling in Norman, Diane resumed her affiliation with the League of Women Voters, which began in New York. Over a period of 30 years, she held positions at the local and state level of the League serving on boards of directors and as president of both the Norman and Oklahoma League of Women Voters. Elections and their results were of special interest to Diane and her favorite work with the League was in voter service projects. This interest led to her appointment as a precinct inspector for elections, a post which she held for 20 years.

Diane's community service involvement included service on a Governor's Education Task Force Committee, a statewide committee seeking improvement in Oklahoma's education funding system. Diane was a member of the Norman Planning Commission for two terms and served on an Apportionment Committee that created wards for the City of Norman and on a City Charter Revision Committee. She also served as a Girl Scout leader.

Diane was very talented in her sewing hobby and handmade her daughters' wedding dresses. She was also known for her gourmet cooking skills and holiday baking. She was an avid reader and genealogy researcher, passing those interests along to her children.

Diane and Rodger were active members of St. Stephen's United Methodist Church in Norman.

Diane is survived by her husband of 66 years, Rodger, of the home; son Christopher (Carol) Brown of Springfield, Va.; daughters Elizabeth (Bruce) Smith of Annapolis, Md., and Katherine (Robert) Leidy of Norman; grandchildren Andrew and Alan Brown, Abigail and Max Smith, and Dallas Leidy; sisters Judy Thomas and Sara Harvey, and brother Larry McLeod; and 14 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father Neil McLeod, and stepmother Jesse; mother Irma Klehn and stepfather Robert Klehn; and sisters Mary Roetzer and Mollie Lannigan.

A private service and interment at St. Stephen's columbarium will be held by the family.