Dorothy J. Brown

Dorothy J. Brown, 97, took her final journey after a long and eventful life as she quietly passed away at Lewiston Transitional Care in Lewiston, on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025.

She was born on Oct. 25, 1927, in her parent's home near Bird City, Kan. Her father was William Calvin Hulin and her mother Lela May Feather. She joined her older sister Elizabeth "Beth" and later her younger brother Frank Allen "Bud" arrived. She related that there were many happy times while in Kansas except for the rattlesnakes that were native to the area. She thought her lifetime fear of snakes came from those times.

The family moved to Idaho in 1935 via train to follow her dad who had left Kansas to seek work in Portland, Ore. However, he met a man on the train who was looking for a farm hand on his ranch near Council, Idaho, and he decided to take the job on the spot. Dorothy remembered her early years in Council as happy and loved filled with many family and friend adventures. She graduated from Council High School in 1945 and began working for Adams County a week after graduation.

She met Aleck Lawrence Brown in 1945 and they married April 14, 1946, in Council. He died Sept. 30, 1999. Their first child, William Andrew "Andy" was born Feb. 13, 1947, in Council followed by John Lawrence who was born on June 8, 1952, also in Council.

The family moved to Grangeville in 1952. Another son, Jack Edward, was born April 17, 1954, in Grangeville followed by daughter Nancy Jean on May 11, 1956. The time in Grangeville was busy with raising children and managing the household. On June 1, 1960, the family made their final move to Lewiston and bought the house that Dorothy continued to live in until her passing. On July 7, 1961, son Jerry Lee was born in Clarkston.

Doing the best for her family was Dorothy's proudest accomplishment in spite of difficult years of financial hardship and medical issues for Andy, Jack and Jerry. She worked briefly for Van R Jones Construction and then started her 39½-year career with the Nez Perce County Auditor's Office, retiring Oct. 31, 2000. She loved her work for the county under the mentorship of several auditors especially Beth Durham and Jim Lloyd. A quote from her memory book said, "I was proudest to be able to work up from the lowest job to deputy auditor and maintain a good reputation." Mom had many hobbies and adventures especially after retiring from the county. She was a great cook especially her bread and butter pickles and freezer jam. She also had developed a recipe for "Grandma's Soup" that we have all tried to duplicate but have not been successful. Many lunches were served to friends and family with "Grandma Soup" and her special sandwiches on the menu. Great-granddaughter Alora will especially miss her sandwiches. Each Christmas season she would create trays of fudge and give them to the Nez Perce County Assessor and Treasurer Office employees. Assessor Dan Anderson even came to her house in the last two years to pick up the candy to make sure they could still enjoy her generosity.

Her crafting abilities were many. She won several awards for her sewing projects at the Nez Perce County Fair. She embroidered and crocheted many pillowcases, dresser scarfs and tablecloths that were made with love for family and friends. She also taught herself how to quilt and made many patchwork quilts. She was especially known for the T-shirt quilts she made for each family member and as well as many friends. Many of these quilts were donated to the annual Dixie Fourth of July auction and to Special Olympics Idaho fundraisers. Her generous donations to Special Olympics Idaho were formally recognized in 2023 when she was designated Legacy Volunteer of Year and honored at the annual gala in Boise. Another hobby she enjoyed was planting and caring for a wide variety of roses and other flowering plants around her home. She developed a keen love of photographing her flowers, scenery and family. She was one of the last to use film in her camera that required developing. She loved traveling with her son and his family to his cabin in Dixie where she spent hours watching and photographing the deer and squirrels. She also cruised to Alaska with them to see her grandson Chris and his family as well as several other Alaska trips by road. They also took several trips to Yellowstone. She loved the road trips so she could see the scenery and wildlife and be able to take hundreds of pictures. Her love of collecting especially books and owls was significant. She loved to read and her thousands of books filled many bookcases in her home and owls were everywhere. She said "some people have a gambling problem - I have a book and owl problem." She encouraged all of her grandkids as well as the great grandkids to always read and they could count on a book as a present for every occasion. She loved holidays but Christmas was her favorite. She said her love of Christmas began when she was very young as her mother made sure the holiday was celebrated in grand style even with little money. She loved Christmas lights and always looked forward to her son-in-law Scott decorating the outside of her house and yard every holiday season from Thanksgiving until New Year's.

She is survived by her son John "Charlie" and his wife, Mary, of Lewiston; daughter Nancy Greene and her husband, Scott, of Peck; grandson Chris Brown, of Clarkston, and grandson Jeff Greene, of Peck. She was blessed with great-granddaughters: Ali Brown and Alora Brown, Colbie Cloke; Morgan Cloke, Marissa Brown (Cody) and Brooklyn Brown; great-grandsons Hunter Brown and Maverick Brown; great-great-grandsons Easton and River Martress and great-great-granddaughter Paisley Martress. She was also blessed with bonus granddaughter Nikki Anderson (Jason), three bonus great-granddaughters Bryton (Gabe), MacKenzie (Cole) and Becca as well as two bonus great-great-granddaughters Luna and Sage. She loved Bill, Carolyn, Karlie and Zack Peavey as family. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews who touched her heart throughout the years.

She was preceded in death by her husband Aleck, sons Andy, Jack and Jerry, and grandson Cody.

The family wishes to thank the staff and doctors at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center's emergency room and fourth floor for their professional and loving care of Dorothy during her time with them as well as the amazing staff at Lewiston Transitional Care for their devotion to her during her final days.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, at the Lewiston VFW Hall, 1104 Warner Drive, Lewiston.

In lieu of flowers and cards, please make a donation to Special Olympics Idaho, P.O. Box 546, New Plymouth, ID 83655.

Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home of Lewiston is in charge of arrangements.