Mary Ann Brown…January 22, 1937 – March 8, 2015

Funeral services for Eads, Colorado resident Mary Ann Brown will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 13, 2015 at the First Christian Church in Eads, Colorado.  Interment will follow in the Eads Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until time of service.

Mary Ann (Ortiz) Brown was born on January 22, 1937 to Ambroiso and Annie Ortiz in El Pueblo, New Mexico.  She was the sixth child of thirteen.  Three of the children passed away as infants.  Mary Ann passed away on March 8, 2015 at her daughter’s residence in Chivington, Colorado at the age of 78.

Mary Ann moved to Colorado when she was twelve years old.  She lived in Hartman and Holly, Colorado.  Mary Ann enjoyed working at Johnnie Hooker’s Variety Store as a young girl.  Mrs. Johnnie Hooker was always kind to her.  Mary Ann went on to name her first child, Johnnie Lou, after Mrs. Johnnie Hooker.

At the age of twenty three, Mary Ann married Van Hugh Brown, Sr. and the two of them resided in Eads, Colorado. To this union, they were blessed with three children, Johnnie Lou and Peggy Sue (the twins) and Van Hugh Brown, Jr.

Van and Mary Ann owned and operated a truck stop and café.  People would come from all around to eat Mary Ann’s enchiladas.  She was a great cook.  Throughout the years, Mary Ann worked in hardware stores, always greeting the customers with a big smile.  She then went to work for Colorado Interstate Gas from 1977-1986 where she was the first woman operator at that plant.  She took pride in how her engines ran and looked.  The brass on her engines was always polished.  She then took a job taking care of Unity Village apartments and grounds.  After a few years, she retired to spend time with the grandkids and to take care of her beautiful yard.  She loved every moment with her grandkids, Lacy, Ashley, Victor, Joseph, Makenzia, and Michael.

Mary Ann and Van were kind-hearted, loving people who loved their four-legged kids and grandkids.  Van would give the dogs rides all over the house in his electric scooter and Mary Ann was quick to make a pot roast or a chicken if one of the animals were not feeling well.  In the later years, they adopted a little abused dog and named her Princess.  That little dog would go retrieve Mary Ann when Van had fallen.  In the last months, days, and minutes of Mary Ann’s life, Princess stood guard devoting her time loving and letting Mary Ann know she was there.  Mary Ann passed on with family and Princess by her side on March 8, 2015.

Mary Ann is survived by her daughters, Johnnie Lou Brown of Pueblo, Colorado and Peggy Sue Blodgett and husband, Carl of Chivington, Colorado; son, Van Hugh Brown, Jr. and wife, Le Anna of Eads, Colorado; grandchildren, Lacy Queen and husband, Abe, Ashley Ferguson and husband, George, Victor Brown, Joseph, Makenzia, and Michael Blodgett; great grandchildren, Rylee and Wyatt Queen; brothers, Jimmy Ortiz and wife, Judy of Oklahoma and Moe Ortiz and wife, Sara of New Mexico; sisters, Josie Morton, Julie Michael, Dora Michael and husband, Glen, Mary Alice Baca and husband, Louie, all of California; sisters-in-law, Emma Ortiz of New Mexico and Harriet Brown of Colorado; brothers-in-law, Johnny Mays of Nebraska and Tom Brown and wife, Loraine of California; many nieces and nephews; and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ambroiso and Annie Ortiz ; husband, Van Brown, Sr.; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Valentine and John Brown; sister, Bea Gallegos and husband, Mike; brother, Eddie Gallegos; brothers-in-law, David Luellian, Clifford Michael, and John Wesley Brown; sisters-in-law, Sally Mays and Floy Mays.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lamar Area Hospice or donor’s choice in care of Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 950, Lamar, Colorado 81052.

For more information or to leave online condolences please visit www.valleymemorialfc.com.