Ellen Brown

ELLEN EMILY HANSEN BROWN 1918 ~ 2008 On July 8, 1918 Ellen Emily Hansen Brown was born to goodly parents Joseph Jabez and Jenevieve Minda May Lund Hansen and passed through the veil on December 3, 2008 while holding hands with her daughter. She was the third born, youngest and only daughter. Ellen grew up in a close knit and very happy family. She and her brothers spent many happy and joyful times together as children. She wore many different hats in life and whether you knew her as Sis, Lellee, Mom, Missy Brown or Grandma, she wore all hats with love and happiness. She married her childhood sweetheart, Frank William Brown on November 6, 1937, and this union was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. Even though their marriage and happiness was cut short by Franks sudden death on April 1, 1961, theirs was a marriage of quality and not quantity. They worked hard along side of each other, built two beautiful homes, and a large cinder block chicken coop together. Anything that they could do together was never considered work. Just when they thought that after ten years of marriage they would never be blessed with children, they were blessed with their only child, Marilyn Oral (Joie) Brown. (Mrs. Browns Lovely Daughter). Never could a couple be so happy and over joyed with the birth of a child. Mom was so full of love that she should have had 12 children, but as her daughter I love her as much as 12 children ever could. This small but close family of 3 moved to West Jordan in 1953 and had a small farm where Ellen loved to plant her garden, take care of the chickens and play with the sheep, geese and pigs. Moms home was always a house of order to say the least. A place where everyone was welcome and loved to visit. Ellen was a member of a local ABWA, serving as President, Treasurer and Secretary over the years. She started working for Valley Bank & Trust in 1961 and retired in 1981. She bowled on several leagues, never passing up a slippery slide, going down her first water slide at the age of 70 years of age, while her son-in-law waited at the bottom to make sure she came up, because she really didnt know how to swim. Ellen also served for many years as Secretary and Treasurer for West Jordan Elementary. She taught for many years in Sunday School and Primary and spent countless hours with the youth of the West Jordan 3rd Ward. Another thing dear to Ellen was the 4-H Program which she always volunteered to teach and go to camp with the girls. She may have only given birth to one child, but she was called MOM by many whose lives she entered and lovingly took part in. She was a volunteer for several years at the Harmon Home Senior Center and was honored as Volunteer of the Month. Ellen was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Charles Joseph Chick and Harold Theodore Swede, whom she missed dearly, and by her son-in-law, Ernest M. Smith. She has been challenged with the very ugly disease of Alzheimers that took away her memory, but she still remembered the happy times of her childhood and never forgot to ask about her two grandsons who meant the World to her: Ernest Michael Smith and Eric Matthew Smith. These two young men made her World a whole lot brighter and she supported them in everything they did, from sports to school to travel. Ellen was able to live on her own and do her own yard work up until she was 85 years old. She was an amazing woman. The Heart that was made of Gold and bigger than life has now stopped but will never be forgotten. Ellen is survived by her daughter, Joie; grandsons, Michael (Tracie), and Eric Smith; great-grandsons, Mason Michael and Kannon William Smith. We as her loved ones would like to thank Beehive Assisted Living for 4 years of loving care, and the wonderful Earthly Angels from Hazen Home Care Center who have been so kind and gentle during these past few months of trial for Mom. As her daughter, I hope that each person whose life has been touched by Mom will always remember her great sense of humor that so endeared her to everyone. Each time you bend over to pick something up, watch out that Ellen is not behind you! A viewing will be held Saturday, 9 - 10:00 a.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road. Graveside services will follow at 10:30 a.m. at Valley View Memorial Park.