Gloria Jean Brown

Gloria Jean (Tobler) Brown was born on June 15, 1934, in Spiro, OK and departed this world on October 17, 2025, at the age of 91, in her home surrounded by family. She was the daughter of Bertha Hazel Chrestman and Ennie Tobler, grew up with 3 sisters and 4 brothers, had 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren. All of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were with her the weekend before her passing for a joyous celebration of life and family. Mama Glo, as she was called by all that loved her, reveled in the celebration.

Gloria graduated from Spiro High School in 1952 and soon moved to Shawnee, OK where she attended OBU. After graduation, she moved back home to Spiro to teach school. Her Aunt Dora, a teacher herself, paid for the girls’ education at OBU, but only one at a time, which is why Gloria worked so hard to finish school in only 3 years so her next sister could attend. She met Jack Brown on a blind date, and they were married on June 7, 1958. It is still unknown whether her mother ever forgave her. During her 61 year marriage, Jack and Gloria traveled the world to destinations too numerous to mention. Many of their trips were taken with friends, like Stan and Linda Chard, to destinations far and wide. The two were frequently in North Carolina for biannual furniture markets, both home and away OSU football games, Canadian fishing trips, but mostly back and forth to Natchez, Mississippi and Phoenix, Arizona to see their daughters and grandchildren. But for Gloria’s steely disposition, she and Jack could have never survived all those years rooting for OSU.

Gloria was an active member of First Baptist Church for over 60 years. She cherished her Sunday School Class and the enduring friendships she made with her classmates. The love she had for those friends and her church cannot be overstated. Being unable to attend as she grew older was one of the cruelest ironies of the illnesses that befell her.

For Gloria, her family was life’s greatest joy. Baking, cooking, and coffee were the foundation of her happiness. Daily coffee visits at 1pm from her brother Jim always made her day. Sewing was also one of her superpowers and she made blankets for all of her great grandchildren and left 2 unfinished for future great grandbabies with verbal instructions, in her final days, on how to complete them. Mama Glo became an adopted grandmother to so many of the friends of her grandchildren with many of those friends visiting her through the years as they grew older and even visiting her in the last days of her life. She was known as Mama Glo to her neighbors and friends alike. The memories of the many tea parties, butter noodles, trips to Starbucks, peanut butter on Triscuits, and hot chocolate in bed will live on forever.

Gloria was preceded in death by her husband, John R. (Jack) Brown, Jr., parents Ennie and Bertha Tobler, brothers Billy, Buddy, and Enie Tobler, sisters Hazel Henry Searcy, and Gail Tobler Shanahan. She is survived by her sister and brother Annette Smith and Jim Tobler; children and family Gena and David Stoll, Annette and David Moreland, John Brown, and Andrea Brown; grandchildren and family Courtney and Joey Scott, Carter and Theresa Jones, Chas and Kelsey Moroney, Andrew and Abby Moroney, Jack and Amanda Brown, Emily Brown; and 9 great grandchildren and counting Andi, Calli, Elli, Ivy, Hayes, Morgan, Palmer, Scottie, and Charlie.

Whether you knew her as Gloria or Mama Glo, the mother or grandmother of a friend, in lieu of food or flowers, please consider donating your time and/or resources to a children’s organization or charity of your choice.

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Luke 18:16