Mary Maxine Brown

Mary Maxine Brown, age 85, was born on September 3, 1932 and passed away on May 26, 2018 in Glendale, California. Mary was preceded in death by her spouse, Lonnie L. Brown. Mary was born in Trimble, Tennessee to the late Max Thompson and Mary Hurt Thompson. Mary Max, as she was known to friends and family (her name sign: MM using American Sign Language fingerspelling) moved with her parents to Springfield, Massachusetts when she was very young. She grew up in Massachusetts and her family relocated to Southern California when she was a teenager. She finished high school in California and attended Pasadena City College. Mary worked at the Los Angeles Times as a linotype operator where she met and married her second husband, Lew Lindley, with whom she had three children, Cindy Lou (Lindley) Kmett (Jon), Linda Lindley (Ron Desormeaux) and Wesley Lindley (Becky). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Rachel Lizotte, Thomas Kmett, Ryan Lindley, Kevin Kmett, Sarah Lindley (d), Jessica Lindley and Carson Lindley.

Mary worked as a linotype operator and proofreader at both the LA Times and the Valley Green Sheet (now Daily News) before entering social services serving the deaf community. Mary began working with the Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD) in their main office, and managed the San Fernando Valley GLAD outreach office in Van Nuys in the 1970's and 80's. Mary’s involvement in deaf advocacy eventually led to her being hired as a manager with AT&T when they won the bid for the first relay service for the deaf in California. Mary trained the new operators in making relay calls between deaf and hearing individuals, and also provided deaf sensitivity training to ensure the operators understood deaf culture. She was tapped to travel around the country to assist AT&T as they won bids in other states.

Mary and Lon retired and moved to Las Vegas Nevada in the early 1990’s where she lived for over 20 years. Mary continued working after retirement in deaf social services/advocacy on a part time basis in Las Vegas.

Mary enjoyed time with family, friends and volunteering with the Silver Belles, a service group of retired deaf women in Las Vegas. Mary had the idea for the name of the group, and the name stuck. She also enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles.