Dorothy Beatrice Brown (Kelley) departed her heavenly home on October 10, 2020, at the age of 72. She was born April 30, 1948, Wardell, MO. She was the daughter of the late Elmer and Dorothy (Grimes) Kelley.
On November 14, 1967 she married Donald Brown and, in the union, they have 3 surviving children; Donald (Sherry) Brown, Bryan Brown, and Ladonna (Randy) Williams all of New Madrid, MO.
Our Momma "Bea" can be described in multiple definitions because she was a jack of all trades but a master of being a great Momma/Nanny/Mamaw and Christian. Momma's life was unconditional love, providing feelings of security and protection, selfless giving of herself for us children and grandchildren. She was dependable, you could call at the last minute and, without hesitation, she was there. She was brutally honest-even if it was inappropriate to say, it came out of her mouth. Later in life, she found the grace, mercy, and love that the Lord freely gives. Momma loved the Lord with all her heart and soul. She was a member of New Madrid Baptist Church. She was a proud member of her Sunday School class, the Ruth Class. She was a prayer warrior daily. She loved talking about the Lord and the blessings he had given her to anyone she came into contact with.
She loved her family with her whole heart. All of her children and grandchildren will tell you cooking was what she did. She made the best fried chicken with homemade biscuits and gravy. It was a weekend tradition to go to momma's house for breakfast and supper. She loved watching classic movies, such as Gone with the Wind, Fried Green Tomatoes, with Wizard of Oz being her favorite. She made us all watch them one time or another. She loved her dog ToTo with her whole heart!
She loved with the motto "spare the rod, spoil the child." Momma demanded respect and honesty. Her grandchildren will tell you she would make you go outside to a certain tree and get the greenest switch to whoop you with. She was a no-nonsense momma and grandmother. She helped mold who we are today. If I could have chosen a momma, I would have picked no other than you!
Above all, we give thanks for the life of a woman I am so proud to call my momma. The unique, the complex, the extraordinary and irreplaceable "Bea" whose beauty, internal and external, will never be extinguished from our hearts and minds.
Dorothy is survived by one brother, Starlin Kelley of New Madrid, MO; three sisters, Emma Jean Poole of Palastin, TX, Alice Langley of Saint Louis, MO, and Fredia Mae Pursley of Crocker, MO; six grandsons, Michael Wayne Brown, Christopher (Courtney) Brown, Matthews Williams, Joshua Brown, Devin Brown, Douglas (Tyler) Brown; two granddaughters, Whitney Starr and Sierra Brown, all of New Madrid, MO; five great-grandsons, Bryan Lee Brown, Ryland Robeson, Carson Brown, Chase Perry, Douglas Brown; five great-granddaughters, Gracelynn Vandever, Ella Starr, Adley Brown, Emma Starr, and Olivia Brown.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters; Thadus Kelley, Junior Ray Kelley, Fred Kelley, Earnest Kelley, Maxine Kelley, Emma Dee Kelley, and Clara Mae Willis.
Pallbearers will be Donald Brown, Bryan Brown, Michael Wayne Brown, Christopher Brown, Matthew Williams, Joshua Brown, Devin Brown, and Douglas Brown.
Services will be held at New Baptist Church as follows:
Visitation: Wednesday, October 14, 11:00a.m.-2:00p.m.
Funeral: Wednesday, October 14, 2:00p.m.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Dorothy Beatrice (Kelley) Brown, please visit our floral store.