Arizona Obituary Archive

Search      Post Obituary


Marion Jean (Widstrand) Brown

Posted 2019-02-08 by Judy Wight Branson
The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona
Sunday, February 03, 2019, page 6a

Marion Jean Brown passed away three days after her half-birthday on
Jan. 28, 2019, at 100.5 (think George Carlin’s bit on half years!).
Marion was born in Chicago on July 25, 1918, to Edward and Edith
Widstrand.

She had a younger sister, Dorothy, who preceded her in death.

Marion graduated high school early in February 1936. She received a
scholarship including tuition, room and board to Cornell College in
Iowa. She couldn’t take advantage of it due to her family not being
able to pay the transportation costs to the school. Ever afterward,
Education and Family were her strongest values. She was proudest of all
her offspring receiving their college degrees and becoming contributing
members of society. She and husband, Bill, raised two sons and enjoyed
60 years of marriage. Their years together included much traveling both
with and without kids. Her working career involved office manager and
bookkeeper duties. She was still balancing her own checkbook as of this
past December. She loved reading, opera, reading, playing bridge and
golf, and reading and reading and reading.

Her values of education, family and hard work are being carried on
through her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who survive
her. Her sons, Carl and Craig (Judi), have raised loving families and
retired after successful careers. Her four grandchildren — Marieka
(Jeanne), Cory, Chad (Lisa) and Kyle — all completed their degrees and
have entered careers that inspire them. Her four great-grandchildren —
Kaila (13), Harper (12), Liana (9) and Bailey (7) — are all lively, ind
ependent readers with minds of their own being shaped to become strong,
thoughtful citizens. Marion’s legacy continues.

The picture attached to this obituary was taken at the Women’s March in
her 100th year, January 2018. In this, her first demonstration, she
marched to represent her great-granddaughters and to make a statement
about the need for equality for all women across the world.

At Marion’s request, donations in her honor can be made to the Friends
of the Prescott Library. A pre-arranged family gathering out of town at
the end of March will serve as her Memorial.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Homes. Please
log on to www.ruffnerwakelin.com to sign Marion’s guestbook and share a
memory with the family.

Information provided by survivors.




Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.

Questions About This Project?