Mary Katherine Brown was born in 1938 in Mansfield, Ohio; 1938 – December 27, 2022. Mary was a beautiful, professional ballet dancer, dance instructor, choreographer, set and costume designer. She was a Brownie and Girl Scout Troop leader. Mary loved to hike, camp, and cook over a campfire. She had a great love of history. She frequently combined community occasions with her Girl Scout troop that she coached to dance and recreate historical events.
Mom was a brave single mom for my brother and I, and she loved us fiercely. For all that she could do Mom never had any inclination to learn to drive. We biked or walked everywhere we went. Our house was always full of friends and family.
Mary moved to Montana in the early 80’s. She lived in Hamilton until she moved to Stevensville in 2014. She loved the Bitterroot Valley, the mountains and the rivers. She hiked to the top of Saint Mary’s for the annual mass, she spent afternoons swimming and exploring the Bitterroot River. She rode her bicycle everywhere.
In Ohio she worked in the school system as a para professional; her particular job was to oversee “the hole” a place of last resort where students went prior to being expelled. Mary loved these kids that couldn’t quite keep in line. Some of them were pretty tough characters. They returned her feelings and frequently walked her home or gave her rides home from school. Mary also worked as a para professional in the Hamilton School District and had the same great joy for all those that managed to get in to her study hall.
Mary never stopped loving a good adventure or road trip; and there were many together. There was nothing that Mary loved more in life than her precious children and her beloved Yorkies.
As is often said, getting older is no picnic; Mary courageously walked through this stage of life as well. Mary’s Alzheimer’s became very difficult in early 2020. In late October of 2022 Mary went to live at the Rosetta Assisted Living in Missoula. Mary went to heaven peacefully, with dignity, a faithful servant of the Lord. Her journey in this world was well done. Thank you Mom, for our wonderful lives and memories.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Julie Foster (G.S.) and son, Michael Brown (Nicole); her sister, Cynthia Peters and her brother, James Contra; her grandson, Michael Brown (Stevanie), her granddaughter Morgan Davis (Tristen); and her great grandchildren as well as many cousins and friends.