Marjorie Joan Brown

Marjorie Joan Brown, born July 14, 1929 in Bayshore, Long Island, New York. She was the daughter and only child of Leah and William Hoffman. She enjoyed piano, art and tap. She loved going to the beach.

Marjorie attended St Lawrence University at Canton, NY to become a language teacher. She studied French and Latin. She earned her Masters degree studying at the Sorbonne in Paris under the direction of Middlebury College in Vermont. Her minor was in music.

She became the wife of Billie Ray Brown, born in Choteau Oklahoma after they met while Billie was stationed at Mitchell Field on Long Island in 1952. They made their home in Bellport, N.Y. Marjorie taught for 33 years , ten of which she instructed piano students in her home in order to be able to raise their two daughters. She taught her daughters piano, too. Marjorie was a church organist for 5 years. She and Billie added sailing on Bellport Bay as their hobby.

Upon retirement Marjorie and Billie were caretakers for the Bellport Historical Society Museum. After two years they moved to Siloam Springs, Arkansas to be closer to Billie’s family. They became members of the Bethel United Methodist Church in West Siloam Springs. She was an organist at this church for about 7 years.

For six years Marjorie and her husband were tutors for the Dogwood Literary Council. After joining the Arkoma Coin and Relic club they made metal detecting their hobby. Marjorie also enjoyed swimming, gardening and golfing.

In 2007 they moved to Damascus, OR to be near their daughters, their spouses and grandchildren. Marjorie and Billie travelled in Oregon. She taught her granddaughter Bonnie piano. Marjorie became a widow in 2008. She traveled to Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Olympic Peninsula on family trips. She continued to live next door to her daughter Becky until her Alzheimer’s progressed. She lived ln memory care for the last 3 years of her life. She died from heart failure and complications of Alzheimer’s. . She went to be with the Lord January 10, 2022.

She is preceded in death by her husband Billie .

She is survived by daughters Laura Brown(Bernie Fox), Becky Marks (Merle Marks) and grandchildren Samuel and Bonnie Marks

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be sent to: Azheimer’s Research https://www.alz.org