Mavis S. Brown

Mavis S. Brown, 93, of Center died Thursday, May 25, 2017 at Hannibal Regional Hospital in Hannibal.

Funeral services were at 11 a.m., Tuesday (today) at the Center Baptist Church. Pastor Dan Peters officiated. Burial was at Center Cemetery.

Visitation was from 10 .m., until the time of service Tuesday at the Center Baptist Church.

Mavis was born Dec. 6, 1923, in Middlebrook, Ark., to Claude and Erva Shaver Murphy. She was married to Fred L. Brown on Jan. 20, 1940 at the Johnson Chapel in Ponder He preceded her in death Aug. 31, 2005.

Survivors include six children, Wendel Brown and wife, Donette of Hannibal, Fredda Scarbrough and husband, Dave of Bownsburg, Ind., Pat Blackwell of Frankford, Larry Brown and wife, Linda of Columbia, Harold Brown and wife, Terry of Kansas City, and Bert Ross and husband, Jim of Center; one sister, Bertha Drewing and husband, Ervin and their daughter Diane Drewing of St. Louis; 20 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews.

Mavis was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Kenneth Murphy and Robert Murphy, infant daughter, Bonnie Sue, three grandkids, Kevin Brown, Rusty Blackwell, and Tony Brown, one great-grandchild, Nicholas Ross, and two sons-in-law, Rex Hockaday and Jerry Blackwell.

Pallbearers were Troy Blackwell, Bo Brown, Jamie Ross, Clint Brown, Bob Hockaday, and Josh Brown.

Mavis retired after working as a cook at the Mark Twain High School for 16 years. She enjoyed sewing, she would make things such as children’s clothing, aprons, and doll clothing.

She liked cooking, especially cinnamon rolls.

Mavis enjoyed planting flowers, she was able to use her own clippings to start rose bushes from scratch. Mavis was also known to can everything she planted in her garden.

She liked to listen to gospel and country western music.

Most of all Mavis cherished the time she was able to spend with her family and friends.

She was a Christian by faith.

Memorial contributions may be made to Center Cemetery Association.