Beverly Jane Brown

Beverly Jane (Brown) Brown, 87, died peacefully in Palm Desert, CA on August 5th, 2017. Beverly was born to Carl and Opal Brown in Bloomington, IL on January 30, 1930. During Bev’s youth her family moved to Ft. Madison, IA. Beverly was a vivacious and much-loved classmate at Fort Madison High School. She enjoyed her many friends and the fun of rallying the student body as captain of the pep squad. Upon graduation from high school in 1948 she began work as an administrative assistant at DuPont Company in Fort Madison. Her sweet voice, quick wit, professionalism and top-notch organizational skills made her a standout at every company lucky enough to employ her. On February 9th, 1951 Beverly married James E. Brown, the boy who’d grown up just across the alley from her family’s home. In a ceremony at the Moffett Naval Air Base chapel, Beverly and Jim began their married life together in California. Not long after Jim graduated from UC Berkley, the couple moved to southern California. Beverly absolutely loved southern California—especially her many years in Palm Desert. The Coachella Valley with its sunny weather, palm trees and breath-taking views of the mountains was a great place to enjoy a career in escrow and her retirement years. Attending The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies at the Plaza Theater was an annual highlight. The couple missed only one year of the show’s twenty-two year run. The Browns enjoyed regular getaways to Villa Capri on Coronado Island, the Flying E Dude ranch in Wittenberg, AZ and the red-sand desert and towering buttes of Monument Valley. Beverly appreciated the work of Navajo artisans— collecting woven rugs, baskets, paintings and clay work. Beverly was an absolute delight—she spread sunshine wherever she went. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. She is survived by her husband of sixty-six years, James E. Brown. Also by nieces, Cathy (Ron) Godwin of Earlham, IA; Susie (Steve) Howard of Greenwood, IN; Lianne (Ben) Westcot of Solon, IA; Mari (Kyle) Mayborn of Macomb, IL; and nephew Richard Clark of Panora, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents, Opal and Carl Brown and her only sister, Betty (Brown) Ames. Arrangements entrusted to Trident Society – Rancho Mirage, Rancho Mirage, CA