Brona Lou (Holden) Brown

Brona Lou Holden Brown was born on May 13, 1932 in Comanche County, Texas to B.C. and Linda Holden.  She graduated from Coleman High School in 1950.   She married Tyrus Raymond Brown of Burkett on January 29, 1952.  Shortly after, Tye was sent to San Diego, CA for Marine Corps Basic Training.  After completing basic training, while stationed in North Carolina, Tye suffered an injury and was sent to the Corpus Christi, TX Naval hospital for recovery.  Brona often spoke of this time living at the coast as some of the best days of her marriage and later in life she enjoyed going back to Corpus Christi to visit and reminisce about those days.  Once Tye was recovered and discharged, he and Brona lived in several small “Texas Oil patch” towns while working and beginning their family, eventually settling back in Coleman.  In 1974, when the world was a much, much larger place, Brona Lou – small town Texas girl that she was – followed Tye halfway around the world to Singapore.  This was the beginning of their lives in the “Global Oil patch” and during this period they lived in Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, and Gabon, Africa.  But despite all the traveling and living internationally, Brona remained a small town, Texas girl and her heart was always here with her children and grandchildren.  She was happy to return to live in Coleman in the mid 80’s so she could enjoy her grandchildren.  She was an avid reader, Trivial Pursuit player, and loved chocolate, but most of all Brona loved being a grandmother and spent many hours enjoying and participating in her grandchildren’s lives. She loved nothing more than having the kids visit and stay with her and there were often jokes about her grandkids coming to live with her as Grandma’s house was their favorite place to be. In later years, she enjoyed working in downtown Coleman – first Grammer’s and then Earl Smith’s Jewelry.  She worked until shortly before the jewelry store closed and finally at age 85, she retired.  Her final years were spent at Holiday Hill Nursing home and she always loved having visits from family, especially the little ones.

She is preceded in death by her parents and all her siblings, Jack, Pete, Lynn, Eddie, Ricky, and Ginger. Tye preceded her in death in January 2000 and she lost a great-grand daughter, Karis in July 2018.

She is survived by three children, Terry Brown of Burkett, Texas, Chuck Brown and partner, Brenda Brants of Las Vegas Nevada, and Molly Norris and husband Cody of Coleman; eight grandchildren, Stephanie Labay and husband Russel of Georgetown, Bridget Holder and husband Matt of Glen Rose, Doug Brown of Stephenville, Misty Purcell and husband Thad of Manor, Taylor Norris of San Angelo, Khaki Brown of Austin, Rynn Curl and husband Charlie of Austin, and Corder Norris and wife Karlee of Hawley; and 17 great-grandchildren, Kenner, Bailey, Cooper, Mati, Reagan, Tobyn, Trenton, Ava, Sammy, Titus, Kyler, Kelan, Khloe, Karsten, Korah, Kaleb, Kenna, Karter, and Nellie , and two great-great grandsons, Asher and Rayne as well as many nieces and nephews.  She loved each and every one of them with all she had.  She is also survived by her two lifelong best friends Arvella Simpson and Bennie Hail who she loved like sisters. She will be greatly missed.

The family will host a visitation from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 21, 2023, at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel, 400 W. Pecan Street, in Coleman.  A graveside funeral service will follow at 12:00 p.m. at the Burkett Cemetery Pavilion with Thad Purcell officiating.  Services are entrusted to Stevens Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Doug Brown, Corder Norris, Bailey Holder, Cooper Holder, Kenner Labay, and Karsten Purcell.

The family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in memory of Brona be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.  Floral contributions are also welcomed.

We invite you to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with the Brown family by signing the virtual guestbook on Brona’s tribute page at www.stevensfuneralhome.com.  Stevens Funeral Home is honored to serve the Brown family.