Dorothy was born December 7, 1925 in Trinity, Texas, and moved to Conroe at age three. Dorothy passed into the arms of her Savior Jesus Christ on Friday August 22, 2025....today would have been her 100th birthday, December 25, 2025. She survived small pox at age 4 and Covid at age 95. Being the youngest of eight children, she was her Daddy’s “Baby.” The timber industry in which her father worked was in decline and he was the last employee working the mill in what was known then as Milltown, presently in south Conroe inside the loop. Growing up in the depression, she experienced the then common deprivation of never having much that was not hand-me-down. In due time she was among the first to attend the new high school, Davey Crocket High School, having earned a place in the Drum and Bugle Corps of that era while in eighth grade. She eventually played the bass drum while in Conroe High School along with her high school friend Rosa Lee (Castleschouldt) Poland, both pictured in the 1942 Flare, p. 62.63. Married to Lafayette Brown, she began the life of a pipe-liner’s wife which meant a great deal of travel. They lived in about thirty different states during their seventeen years of marriage. The marriage ended and Dorothy began the task of rearing her eight-year-old son and struggling to keep the family property. Soon she attended the Leggett Memorial School of Nursing and passed her state exams to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse. She excelled in her profession throughout her long career. For thirteen years she worked in the Leggett Memorial Hospital in Cleveland, Texas where she eventually supervised the ER, OB & Delivery, and Surgery divisions. Admittedly, it was a small hospital, but there was no shortage of patients needing care for the many years she served there. She was blessed to have delivered babies and saved patients’ lives during her tenure, as attested by numerous testimonials and cards of gratitude she received through the years. She left Cleveland for employment with Doctor's Hospital in Conroe where she worked in surgery for 25 years. During this time, she volunteered her services at Governor Bill Daniels ranch for events held there for crippled children. After Doctor’s Hospital, she began employment at Conroe Regional Medical Center where she worked in surgery for eight years. She eventually went part-time and worked there until the age of 81. While there she traveled to Belize with a team of doctors and nurses who performed eye surgery for the needy. She continued to advise her family and friends regarding their medical needs throughout her life. Her wisdom was valued by all those who listened to and heeded her wealth of acquired knowledge and insight.
Dorothy loved many things throughout her life: dancing, bird-watching, nature, the U.S.A. and Texas. She knew the names of many flowers and trees, and could identify many birds by their song. She loved her family-from her nephew Roy Harris to the youngest newborn in the clan. She loved reading magazine stories/articles, biographies, and novels. She submitted a short story to Southern Living not long ago and was proud of her personalized rejection letter. She loved to sing and listen to country, gospel, and patriotic music. She sent hundreds of cards and seemed to remember everyone’s birthday. She gave regularly from her Social Security income to a variety of Christian organizations: Billy Graham, the Navigators, SIM, Grace Community International, church ministries, and assorted charities. She loved to read her King James Bible, having made a life changing commitment to Christ, and was subsequently baptized into membership at First Baptist Church of Cleveland.
She was a caring nurse, loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother and will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Dorothy was proceeded in death by her parents, Andrew Jackson Murray and Eunice Pentecost Murray; her sister Gladys Harris and husband Henry; sister Marion Matthews and husband Pud Matthews; sister Opal Murray; brother A. J. Murray Jr; brother Harry Murray and wife Mary; brother Bob Murray and wife Pauline; and her former husband Lafayette Brown.
She is survived by her son Ronald Brown and wife Carolyn; Nephew: Jim Harris; Harry Wayne, Mike, and Pat Murray; Nieces: Wynne Harris, and Victoria (Helen) Knight. Special great nephew, Troy Lane, Niece Maureen Golden and husband Curtis. Grandchild Lana Leigh Wilkens and husband Matthew and greatgrandchildren Samuel, Peter, Tess, Harry, Stella and June and numerous friends-Sandra Chagla, Robbie Ganek, Gaynelle Hall, Beulah Mathes, and Glenna Marek, in particular. She is missed by all. Her favorite verse is Hebrews 13:5b "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." We, the living, can rest confidently in the Hope of the resurrection when we shall meet her again.
