Patsy Diane Brown

Patsy Diane Brown departed this world and ran into the arms of Jesus on October 10, 2024. She was surrounded by her loving family.

Pat dedicated her 75 years of life to loving and serving others in every way possible. She had eyes that saw the best in everyone, a heart full of forgiveness and unconditional love, and unwavering faith in her Savior.

She was a dedicated wife, a devoted mother, and a loving grandmother. To know her was to love her, be loved by her, and most of all blessed by her.

Pat was born November 12, 1948, to loving parents Dewie & Opal Matthews. The oldest of three daughters, she was a spitfire from day one. She enjoyed only the social part of school, and was often in trouble for talking in class. She was always cutting class, and hair. (She was practicing for all the trims she gave her granddaughters). She preferred to spend her time working rather than studying, so she always had money for the most fashionable clothes. She graduated from Adlai Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, IL.

Pat married the love of her life, Burton “Buddy” Brown on July 12, 1969. They began their marriage in Judsonia, AR until Buddy was drafted into the Army. That carried them to call both Germany and Alabama home. Once Buddy’s service was complete, they returned to Lonoke and built the home they’ve shared for the last 40 years. Pat made sure, no matter where they lived, each house was made into a home. Together they welcomed three children - Kevin, Gina, and Brad.

Pat was the kind of mom most people could only dream of having. She juggled raising her 3 children, running her household, a career, and she did it all with such grace, class, and pride. She would move Heaven and Earth for her children. Her selflessness knew no ends and there was no sacrifice she wouldn’t make for her family. Her mothering didn’t stop at her own children. There were many children she opened her home to through the years. Most recently, she spent her golden years helping raise her beloved granddaughter Kyleigh.

And while her love for her children is unquestionable, we all know her favorite title was Granny / Pat Nene. Her five granddaughters were her world. She had hundreds of sleepovers. She was at every basketball game, every birthday party, every school event. Her girls could count on pizza on Friday night, homemade breakfast every Saturday morning, picking the garden, swimming with her until everyone was pruny, and a cabinet stocked with the best snacks. She made the holidays magical with matching jammies for everyone, going out for a drive to look at Christmas lights, and returning to find that Santa had visited granny’s house too. She was always proud of her girls, and always made sure they knew just how loved they were.

When the great grandchildren began arriving, Pat was blessed with 6 great grandsons who each loved and adored her. She made her way to many baseball games, carried on the holiday traditions the boys grew to love, and of course, taught them to shell peas.

Pat drove a bus for Lonoke schools for twenty years, touching the lives of many children. She kept a paddle on the bus to keep the kids in line, but we all know she was too sweet to ever use it. She continued her working years at Lonoke Exceptional School (Now Building Bridges) where she forged incredible relationships with clients and their families. She loved her clients dearly and prioritized their care. She held her staff accountable to ensuring the clients were happy from the moment they walked in, until the moment they left. She was known for protecting and defending both her clients and staff, and of course her famous Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers Islands in the Stream talent show performance. Pat thought of her years at the school as one of her life’s greatest accomplishments.

Pat wouldn’t be found without a can of coke nearby. Bottled or fountain cokes were only acceptable in times of desperation, cans are far superior, and Lord help the poor fool that drank her last coke in the fridge. She loved to camp and fish with her husband, and their dear friends Jimmy and Dorothy Felton. She loved to garden, she enjoyed a good crime show, and she often spent hours giggling on the phone with her sister. Pat was the fastest driver in the family, securing multiple wins at the track’s Powder Puff races.

Pat is reunited in Heaven with her parents, Dewie & Opal Matthews, her son, Kevin Brown, and brother, Steven Matthews.

Left behind to cherish her memory is her husband, Buddy Brown, daughter Gina Eddy (DeWayne) of Lonoke, son Bradley Brown (Kim) of Lonoke, granddaughters, Renee Tucker (Greg) of Austin, DeAnna Shannon (Zach) of El Paso, Julie Stanley (Brandon) of Jacksonville, Kyleigh Brown (Jackson) of Buena Vista, CO, Brittany Lewis (Anthony) of Cabot, great grandsons - Eli & Landry Lewis, Jacob Pate, Colton, Nash, and Tripp Tucker, sisters Brenda Perella (Dan) of Bellingham, MA, and Fredia Smith (John) of Austin as well as a host of other extended family and friends.

Our family wishes to send our sincerest thank you to CHI St Vincent ICU doctors and nurses, and especially nurse Jay Walker, who gave such compassionate care in her final days.

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 14 from 6-8 pm at Boyd’s Funeral Home in Lonoke. Funeral service will be Tuesday, October 15 at 10:30 am at Wattensaw Baptist Church in Lonoke with burial to follow at Hicks Cemetery. Come as you are.