MARGARET L. "TEENIE" BROWN

Margaret L. "Teenie" Brown, 77, of Carthage, passed away on March 25, 2011, at Freeman Hospital, Joplin, Mo.

She was born on April 22, 1933, in El Dorado Springs, Mo. Teenie was the daughter of the late Frederick Franklin Bland and the late Nora Gladys Griffin Bland.

The family moved to Fort Scott, Kan., in 1936 where she grew up.

Teenie graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1951.

Teenie married the love of her life, Melvin "Brownie" Brown, July 1, 1952. They were together 56 years and he preceded her in death on June 4, 2007.

Teenie was a lifetime member of the Eastern Star, Olive Chapter No. 13 OES, Fort Scott, Kan., and a member of Fairview Christian Church in Carthage. She enjoyed attending cell group, women's ministry events, the grieving spouses group at Ulmer Funeral Home and Class of '51 gatherings.

Mel and Teenie owned and operated Brown Refrigerated Express, Inc., for 31 years and moved the company to Carthage in 1980. She worked as a secretary and homemaker.

Teenie was employed by CFI in Joplin and retired from the State of Missouri, Division of Family Services in 2006.

Teenie was a collector of many things. She loved to cook, shop, garage sale and flea market. She was well- known to many for her 12 Days Before Christmas tradition, mowing on her Kubota, amazing mashed potatoes, and her gifts of hospitality and giving. She considered each one of her family and friends precious blessings from God. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by five siblings, Fred Jr. and Dorothy Mae Bland (infancy), Virginia Marchant, Harry Leon Bland and Wayne Bland.

Teenie is survived by a son, Terry Brown and his wife, Deana, of Carthage; and a daughter, Tammy Crozier and her husband, Bill, of La Plata, Md. She has three grandchildren, Toby Brown, Will and Megan Crozier.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, March 30, at Fairview Christian Church. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 31, at Fairview Christian Church, with burial at 2:30 p.m., at Fort Scott National Cemetery.

Contributions may be made to the Patty Denman Krahling Memorial Foundation in care of Ulmer Funeral Home.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ulmer Funeral Home, Carthage.