Mary Brown

After a lifetime of generosity and cheer our beloved mama, grandma, sister, aunt and friend went to be with her Lord on Tuesday September 9, 2025 at the age of 84. Mary was born August 26, 1941 to Joseph and Laurette (Fowler) Murphy in Saginaw, Michigan. She was the middle child with two older brothers and two younger sisters. Seeing that she was a shy child her mother enrolled her in dance classes which she continued through high school. She worked at "Ma Bell", became a teacher and eventually met and married Philip Brown in the fall of 1965. They settled in Lansing, raising 4 children to know, love and serve the Lord.
Mary, a lifelong Catholic, was more deeply renewed in her faith when she encountered Jesus at a prayer meeting. She and Phil were active in the charismatic renewal as well as the family parish, Immaculate Heart of Mary where she enjoyed many friendships, went to daily Mass, and invited many people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Even while raising children Mary loved spending time with friends, appreciated many beautiful things, traveled, did childcare, visited shut-ins and was a powerful intercessor for her friends and family. She loved scripture and she started each day in her lounge chair with coffee and prayer. She also loved entertaining, making life beautiful, had a fantastic sense of style and looking for the good in others. She was merciful to many, a powerful example of our Lord's mercy to ourselves.
A funny, witty and often self-deprecating soul, Mary was a source of consolation to many. She would remind us that "this too shall pass" and that our Lord always gave grace for our crosses – "Great is His faithfulness" was a common phrase and she lived and helped others live in great hope and faith of Jesus Christ.
This would become particularly important when on January 16, 2021, after leaving Mass, she was in an auto accident that resulted in having a traumatic brain injury from which she would not recover. However, early in her injuries she would keep saying "persevere, persevere" and we knew she was able to pray and keep her eyes on Jesus throughout her suffering. Many of her caretakers commented on her joy, faith and sassiness as well as her sweet affection for them, even in the midst of her great challenges.
Preceding her in death were her husband of almost 60 years, Philip Brown; son, Timothy; brother, Donald (Mitzi) Murphy; sister-in-law, Adeline Murphy; brothers-in-law, Dennis Wyatt and Dave Karl; niece, Mary Monica Mitchell; and her parents, Joseph and Laurette Murphy.
She is survived by her loving children, Margo Brown, Jennifer Brown, Paul (Christy) Brown, Patrick (Jen) Brown; grandchildren Grace, Gabriel, Andrew, Ava, Peter, Emmett, Liam, Sophia and Penelope; her brother, Joe Murphy (Adeline)and her two younger sisters, Kay Wyatt (Dennis) and Maureen (Dick) Call, many nieces and nephews and their children, as well as her sister-in-law, Wilma Karl and her daughters, Cathy Ake and Liza Whittaker and their families.
Family will receive friends for visitation on Thursday, September 18, 2025 from 2-4 pm & 6-8 pm at Skinner Funeral Home - Lansing Chapel, with a 7pm Vigil Service. There will also be a short visitation at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish on Friday starting at 10am.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 19, 2025 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Lansing. Following interment at Evergreen Cemetery, a funeral luncheon will take place at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish. To share memories and condolences, please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.