Nell Johnston Brown

Nell Johnston Brown, 77 of Bunnell, Florida Passed Away on Saturday, October 28, 2023. Nell was a life-long resident of Bunnell, Florida. She lived in other parts of the world from time to time but always returned to her roots and family in Bunnell. Nell loved her immediate and large extended family. At 13 years old, she was expertly riding her beautiful horse on a coquina shell street in Bunnell when she happened upon a strange boy walking on the street. She stopped and said, “Hi! I’m Nell. Are you new here? Would you like to ride my horse?”. The 13 year old boy (6 months younger than her) said, “Hi I’m Jim Brown. Nice to meet you, and no I do not want to ride that horse”. Nell hopped down and insisted that he ride. Jim decided to accept the offer (and score 13 year- old points). His flawed logic was, although 100% inexperienced, he had watched Roy Rogers, The Lone Ranger, and John Wayne, so he decided it should not be too difficult. He hopped on, grabbed the reins, and firmly kicked the horse in its sides. The horse took off like it was shot from a cannon toward US-1, and it would not respond to frantic commands like WOAHHHH !, STOPPPP !, and NOOOOO ! Jim chose survival by bailing out. As he tensed to jump off to the side, he dropped the reins. Suddenly, the horse slid to a total stop. Jim did not! The principle of dynamic inertia kicked in and caused him to fly over the horse’s head and down the coquina shell street, finally and painfully, sliding to an undignified stop some 15 feet ahead of the horse. Nell came running and Jim thought that at least he would still get the points. She got on her horse, glared down at him and said, “My poor horse!, I’ll never speak to you again!” the horse was a champion quarter horse and trained cattle roping horse that immediately stops on a dime when the reins are dropped.

10 years later, Nell and Jim were married! That first meeting was 63 years ago.

Nell was tucked into her bed at home at 10 pm the previous evening by Jim, her husband of 53 years. He wished her sweet dreams. She then spoke her last words, “I Love You”. The next morning Saturday, October 28th, she was gone.

Nell lived an eclectic life incorporating a broad and diverse range of professional and private endeavors. She earned a Bachelors degree from Florida State University where the Deans instructed since she had taken such a wide variety of courses, she HAD to select a major from her many subject courses to graduate. She continued through the years to earn a Masters Degree from Florida State University in Information Science (Library) and also a Masters Degree from the University of Florida in Exceptional Child Education and Psychology. Nell retired from Flagler County Schools after 44 years of teaching experience as well as 3 years in California and 6 years in Athens, Greece with the American Department of Defense School System. She was a National Delegate to the American Library Association and Lead Editor and Publisher of the association’s international magazine.

Nell produced large scale on stage elementary school musical plays for years with casts of up to 300 on stage students. Nell and her dear friend, Music Director and now Director of Flagler Auditorium, Amy Fulmr, led an “army” of volunteers for make-up, stage sets, parking, ushers, concession workers, costume changers, security and more. There were no teachers or staff on stage. The kids learned to do everything on stage. Nell was the costume honcho for four different productions that rotated over 4 years. Nell and her weary husband haunted malls and other businesses always on the lookout for sets of 5 to 10 leotards for ballerinas, small clothes for munchkins, or parasols for “southern ladies”, and the costume list went on and on. The plays were excellent and one of Nell’s most noteworthy professional accomplishments. She loved the children and the children loved “Mrs. B” and most of the time “Aunt Nell”.

She received acclaim as an Artistic Designer of desert- rock and geode jewelry and exotic glazing and painting of sculpted pottery.

Nell loved travel. While living in Athens Greece, she traveled throughout Europe and Russia, the Middle East, photo safaris to Kenya, throughout Egypt as an accomplished Egyptian and historian amateur archeologist.

Her greatest love in later life was breeding and showing purebred dogs. She and her “Spiritual Sister”, JoAnn Freise (professional dog groomer and handler) traversed the USA and Canada showing dogs and winning American Kennel Club (AKC) championships for many of her dogs throughout the years including Best in Show, Best in Breed, and Awards of merit from the Westminster Kennel Club in NYC (most prestigious venue in the USA). Nell’s mother Ria, who shared our house for 30 years, was against a small kennel on premises until Nell told her that the kennel’s name would be RIA KENNELS. Shortly thereafter, hubby began constructing fences and kennel infrastructure (under Nell’s supervision, of course). In the latter years she and JoAnn switched breeds to Otterhounds (A rare and endangered breed). She was again presented an Award of Merit at Westminster Kennel Club in this breed.

Nell and Amy Fulmer, music teacher and now Director of Flagler Auditorium, were recognized by Veterans organizations and Service clubs for their patriotic shows by elementary kids each year. The kids learned a myriad of facts, flag protocols, and patriotic songs and then performed them on Veterans Day and other venues such as School Board meetings.

Nell is survived by Her Husband of 53 years, James M. Brown of Bunnell, Florida, her son James M. Brown Jr. and his wife Ellen Karn Brown of Milford, CT; brother Albert B. Johnston and his wife Susanne Borne Johnston of Bunnell, Fl; granddaughter Taira Curl Stronach and great grandson Wesley Stronach of Portland, OR; grandson Matthew Brown of Portland, OR; niece Suzanne Bourne Johnston and daughter Sydney Adams of Flagler Beach, FL; nephew Bart Johnston and wife Amanda Johnston, and children Albert Johnston, and Addison Johnston of Bunnell, FL; niece Lyn J Lafferty and husband Ed Lafferty and daughter Rya Lafferty of Flagler Beach, FL; niece Joy J Hughes and husband Daniel Hughes of Gainesville, FL; niece Donna C Maxwell of Holly Hill, FL; Mary E Fortin and husband Richard Fortin of New Smyrna Beach, FL; nephew William Donald Maxwell II and wife Coleen of Orange City, FL; Joseph Brown of Daytona Beach FL and children, Billy Brown of TN, Traci Livernois of CO, and Ricki Stidam of Louisville, KY.; and godson Jarvis Warren of Palm Coast, FL

Nell was preceded in death by her father Albert B Johnston and mother Ria A .Johnston of Bunnell, FL; and brother John B Johnston of Bunnell, FL.

A memorial gathering will be held on November 15, from 5:00PM until time of the service. A memorial service will begin at 6:00PM. Interment services will be private.

Arrangements are in the care and trust of the Craig-Flagler Palms funeral Home in Flagler Beach, Florida.

Condolences may be sent to www.craigflaglerpalms.com