Mary Ann Mitchell Brown, 80, of Soda Springs, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, July 18, 2018.

Mary was born September 20, 1937, at Shelley, Idaho, to William Wesley Mitchell and Olive Myrtle Betty. She was the youngest of six children. Her older siblings called her "Our little Mary". She grew up in a house filled with love, work, peace, and laughter. She recalled with fondness her early years in the Shelley area. In her late teens her parents moved to Missoula, Montana, to further build their beekeeping business. Mary spent some time with them there but the home and friends she always remembered were near Shelley. She was employed at the local drug store in Shelley where she was occasionally interrupted by Hank Brown, a dashing young veteran of the Korean conflict. By then Hank was working at Central Farmers in Georgetown, and building a house in Soda Springs. They courted and were married on July 12, 1958. They moved into the home he built where they lived the rest of their lives. Mary, Hank, and their little family were sealed for eternity March 15, 1967, at the Logan LDS Temple.

Mary's life was full of family, homemaking, and service. She loved to sew and, especially in her later years, loved quilting on Tuesdays with the ladies. Family reunions were happy times with great food, games, camping, and lots of love shared with all. Mary was an excellent cook, famous for her homemade rolls, green salad, and especially pretzel salad. It wasn't a family gathering without pretzel salad!

She struggled when Hank passed away suddenly in January, 2018. They lived for each other, and despite loving care from her kids, grandkids, and friends she was sad a lot of the time. Families can be forever, so we celebrate their reunion in Paradise. Her parents and four siblings, Helen Browning, Russell Mitchell, Norma Owen, and Norman (Duke) Mitchell preceded her in death. She is survived by her children Nancy (Kevin) Keller, Alan (Jeannie) Brown, Rachel (Shawn) Crowley, and Janine (Nathan) Bleiweiss, sixteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. She is also survived by a sister, Betty Benjamin.

Mary's funeral will be Saturday, July 28, at noon in the Hooper LDS meetinghouse in Soda Springs. A visitation will be held Friday, July 27, from 7 to 8 PM at Sims Funeral Home in Soda, and from 10:30 till 11:30 am Saturday at the meetinghouse. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery.

Flowers are nice, but consider donating to the Soda Springs Public Library.


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