Evelyn “Ovie” Richards Brown, 97, of Terre Haute, Ind., and formerly of Downers Grove and Urbana, gained eternal life Sept. 9, 2017, at her home. She was a retired physician office manager.
Graveside services are at a later date in Mound Cemetery in Charleston. Stewart & Carroll Funeral Home in Paris is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Brown was born July 4, 1920, at Charleston, the daughter of the late Albert C “Cap” and Ethel Mora Davis Richards. She married Floyd Leslie “Les” Brown Dec. 15, 1942, at Charleston, and he survives.
She is also survived by a sister-in law, Maxine Brown Fitzjarrald of Arthur; a brother-in-law, Charlie Brown of Decatur; nieces, Susi Hanner (Bruce) Willis of Paris, Sue (Mike) Downes of St. Joseph and Debbie McMillan Kleiss of Tuscola; nephews, Don (Chris) Richards of Grove, Okla., Jim (Bev) Hanner of Fort Pierce, Fla., Mike (Mary) Richards of Powell, Tenn., Tom (Cindy) Richards of Austin,
Texas, and Doug McMillan of Pueblo, Colo.; and several great and great-great-nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by one brother, Leland Paul Richards; two sisters,
Catherine Ann Hanner and Juanita Beth Richards; brothers-in-law, Oland Hanner and Lee Roy Browne; and family friend, Mary Tracy.
A graduate of Kansas High School, Kansas, Mrs. Brown was chief of payroll for Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago for several years. She then served as office manager for a private physician practice in Downers Grove until her retirement. She logged many volunteer hours as a member of the Good Samaritan Hospital Auxiliary in Downers Grove and later for the Carle Foundation
Hospital Auxiliary, receiving recognition in 2002 for 5,000 hours of service at Carle.
During her husband’s career as a professional engineer, she served as chairwoman of the Engineers Wives Chicago Chapter of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers. She enjoyed Bible study, playing cards and lifelong learning via Elderhostel. She was a member of the Kickapoo Carvers Club. She and her husband enjoyed traveling, having visited all 48 continental states, as well as Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
The Browns’ home became a gathering place for many neighborhood children wherever they lived, many of whom have remained in contact with them over the years. She was a very special aunt and second mother to her niece, Susi Hanner Willis.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Oland Hanner Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Scholarship in care of Indiana State University
Foundation, 30 N. Fifth St., Terre Haute, IN 47809, or to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Online condolences may be left at www.stewartandcarrollfuneralhome.com.