Mary Annette Brown

Mary Annette Brown, 88, passed away in Glendale, AZ on January 15, 2025. She was born on September 6, 1936, in Winnebago, MN to Warren and Mary Cramer. Mary graduated from Winnebago High School and went on to nurse’s training in Mankato, MN. On January 14, 1956, she married Richard (Dick) Brown and together they had 3 children.

Mary and Dick moved their young family to Glendale, AZ in July 1971 where she worked as a secretary at Church of the Beatitudes. Once her children were off to college, she worked full-time as an Admission Director at a nursing facility in Peoria and finished out her long career in health care in 2006 as an independent consultant. Throughout their lives, she and Dick held leadership roles in several civic organizations and led a church youth group dedicated to experiencing the outdoors.

Mary and Dick moved to Flagstaff, AZ in 1987 and spent many months each year traveling across North America. They loved to flyfish, camp, and spend time exploring the beauty of the American wilderness; always sure to visit with their children, grandchildren, extended family, and friends along the way.

Mary had a passion for her family history and spent a lot of her spare time researching her ancestry. She also served as a member and an officer in the Flagstaff Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, where she used her knowledge of genealogy to help other club and community members discover their ancestry.

Mary was preceded in death by her father Warren A. Cramer, mother Mary J. (Cross) Cramer, and a sister Roberta Cramer Wunderlin. Her beloved husband Dick passed away in March 2020 and her grandson, SSG Alexander W. Conrad, was killed in action in Somalia while serving his country in 2018.

She is survived by her 3 children; Sharon Brown of Phoenix, AZ, Bruce (Leslie) Brown of Broomfield, CO and Diane Brown of Flagstaff, AZ; her grandchildren Ryan Jones, Michael (Laura Levandowski) Jones, Christie Palcisko, Jacob (Jolee) Conrad, Robert (Brandi) Brown and Kevin (Jordan) Brown; her great-grandchildren Jack and Tommy Palcisko, Carson, Myer and Lena (born January 17, 2025) Conrad, Canyon and Forrest Brown, and another great-grandchild due to arrive in May, 2025. Mary is also survived by her niece, Holly Hartung Cramer.

A private inurnment service will be held as she is joined in her final resting place with her husband Dick in the Arizona Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery at Camp Navajo in Bellmont, AZ. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to all Mary’s caregivers over the last several months, especially to Destiny C. and Angie A. along with all the compassionate caregivers at Hospice of the Valley. Donations can be made in Mary’s name to Hospice of the Valley, Daughters of the American Revolution, or Rusty’s Angels. Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at www.dignitymemorial.com.