Coleen Brown

Coleen Edith Brown, 84, passed away Monday, January 16, 2012 at her daughter"s home. Coleen was born September 25, 1927 to Harry Friend Townsend and Veva Etta Patterson Townsend in Marshalltown, Iowa. She graduated in 1946 from Newton Senior High School. On June 9, 1946 she was married to Marion Lee Brown in Sheraton, Iowa. She worked at Maytag manufacturing for 31 years. In 1992 they moved to Paola where Coleen worked as a caretaker for the retired nuns for Ursaline Academy. Coleen enjoyed cooking, canning, baking, and making strawberry jam. She also enjoyed bowling, TV game shows, playing Waa-Hoo, Apples to Apples and the card game Pounce, and enjoyed watching her grandchildren play sports. Coleen is very proud that one granddaughter served in the US Navy and one is still serving in the Tennessee National Guard. Family and friends were very important to her and she enjoyed her coffee group which met every Monday and Friday in Paola. She was a member of Moose Lodge of Newton, IA, GOOTS Society of Paola, KS, United Methodist Church, and the Bowling Association. Coleen is preceded in death by her parents, and five brothers Wayne, Carroll, Max, Donald, and Kenneth Townsend. She is survived by her husband of the home; children Marilyn Langston of Overland Park, KS, Mary Melton of Woodbury, TN, and Brenda Hallstrom of Paola, KS; sister Ruth Follen of Durand, MI; brother Myron Townsend of Newton, IA; grandchildren Michael Langston of Shawnee, KS, Trevor Langston of Plano, TX, Jason Langston of Kansas City, KS, Jennifer Duggin of Woodbury TN, Tina Melton of Woodbury, TN, Cody Hallstrom of Overland Park, KS, Baker Hallstrom of Paola, KS, and Mackenzie Hallstrom of Paola, KS; and 15 great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to the Paola High School Girls Softball Team.