Betty Rose Brown

Betty Rose Brown of Muskogee, Oklahoma passed away Friday, March 27, 2026 at the age of 90. She was born in Meno, Oklahoma on February 10, 1936 and raised in North Enid, OK. She was also raised in a traditional German household and grew up in the Bible Baptist Church. She was somewhat of a tomboy growing up and told us that she liked to climb trees. Mom grew up with four sisters. they had many adventures together and mom kept in close touch with them throughout the years. She learned to sew at an early age on her mother’s treadle sewing machine and that led to a lifelong love of sewing. Mom loved fabric, later on in life she was able to open and own her own fabric store, called Betty Brown Fabrics, in the old Hunts building in Muskogee, OK. Betty met Donald Lonzo Brown at Woolworths in Enid, OK, when he was there visiting his aunt. That began a courtship that ended a year later in marriage on June 6th, 1954. They lived in Enid, OK, for a short time when they were first married, later on moving to Chandler, OK, where they lived for almost 25 years, working and raising three children, Don, Gerry and Tommy. Betty worked at Hellman’s Department store, First National Bank and various other jobs while they lived in Chandler. Betty and Lonzo were members and attended the First Babtist Church in Chandler. They enjoyed playing cards, (Rook), with many friends and family members, going camping and traveling. After they retired, they would take off on a road trip calling somewhere along the way and letting us know they were traveling and where they were going. They traveled to Washington, D.C., South Dakota to see Mt. Rushmore and various other places. In the spring of 1979, Betty and Lonzo moved to Muskogee, OK, where she opened her fabric store. She was always busy with a project, whether it be sewing or something else. She took up quilting and gave quilting classes in her store; at one time she made custom draperies for people with dad going along with her to help hang the finished draperies in the customer’s homes. Betty also made and sold silk flower arrangements for Memorial Day. She had many loyal customers for her beautiful memorial arrangements during the years she made them. She was quite an artist at putting together fabrics of all different colors and design for her quilts, and when making her flower arrangements. Betty belonged to the Muskogee Quilters Guild and enjoyed going to meetings and visiting with her friends. She also belonged to the Gore, OK, Quilters Guild and enjoyed their Thursday night meetings. She had many good friends in both guilds; their kindness and friendships were greatly appreciated by mom, she talked often about them, telling us of their kindness and how much she enjoyed them, we are thankful she had such good friends. Betty was a great cook as all mothers are, but she was exceptional! There were many family outings where we ate in abundance. We had many family get-togethers and there was always plenty to eat, her fried chicken and potato salad were the best! She especially loved trying new recipes, especially dessert recipes; she had somewhat of a sweet tooth. Betty loved getting together with her family, she loved all of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren very much, she was always very happy to see them when they visited. We all loved her very much and were blessed to have her for a mom, she will be greatly missed by all of her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Pete and Martha Smith; husband, Donald Lonzo Brown; brother, Leroy Smith; sisters, Barbara Krause, Genevieve Neumann, and Kathleen Joan Robinson. Betty is survived by her son, Don Allen Brown and wife Jean, daughter, Gerry Lynn Cole and husband Kim; son, Tommy Wayne Brown and wife Robin; grandchildren, Kevin Cole and wife Ki, Angela Karr and husband John, Charles Brown and wife Amanda, Brent Brown and Madyson, Brittney Brown and Brandon Castor, Matthew Brown, Debbie Gregg and husband Terry, Tammy Graber and husband Tim, Cathy McFarland and husband Mike, and David Mason; great-grandchildren, Jeshurun Cole, Ruthie Cole, Skylar Brown, Sloan Brown, Elijah Brown, Jonah Brown, Paisley Brown, Noah Brown, Tera Shores and husband Kyle, Jared Gregg and wife Caitlyn, Austin Fleischer and wife Samantha, Leah Miller and husband Creedence, Jeremy Vickrey, and Colton Vickrey; eight great-great-grandchildren, sister, Burnece Schultz; along with many other family members and friends. Betty’s life will be celebrated at 12:30pm, Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at Cornerstone Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gene Thompson. Interment will follow at 2:30pm at Fort Gibson National Cemetery with Kevin Cole, Brent Brown, John Karr, Jared Gregg, Charles Brown, and Kyle Shores serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Kim Cole, Terry Gregg, Tim Graber, Mike McFarland, and Chuck Stewart.

Betty Rose Brown

February 10, 1936 - March 27, 2026