Julia Ann Brown, 93, passed from this life on October 16, 2023. Funeral services will begin 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 20, 2023 at the First United Methodist Church in Stillwater, where she held her membership for many years. Burial will follow in Fairlawn Cemetery. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.


Julia Ann was born to Yoris Manley Cottongim and Lena Marie Fulwider Cottongim on November 25, 1929 in Drumright, Oklahoma. She lived in Stillwater for much of her life. Her maternal grandparents, James H. Fulwider and her namesake Julia Ann Thompson Fulwider, served as blacksmith and teacher on the Sac and Fox reservation in Indian Territory. They participated in the Land Run of 1889 and homesteaded in what became the town of Perkins. Julia Ann's father was a carpenter and homebuilder who worked for a local lumber company. Her mother was a homemaker who sewed most of Julia Ann's clothes.


After graduating from Stillwater High School in 1948 she attended Oklahoma A&M and worked at Bonney's dress shop downtown. On December 22, 1952, she married Donald Dean Brown in a ceremony at the Stillwater Evangelical United Brethren Church. During his career as an agricultural education teacher, the couple lived in Winterset, Iowa, Dacoma, OK, Oakwood, OK, and Prague, OK. When Don became an ag ed supervisor at the State Department, the family moved to a farm south of Stillwater, and their three sons attended Perkins-Tryon schools. She was a fastidious homemaker and worked as a library aide for her sons' schools. After she was widowed in 1980, she worked for several years in the personnel department at OSU along with her lifelong friend, Loretta Fisher.


The focus of her life was her family. She was close with her parents, her brothers, and their families, and she devoted her time and attention to raising her three sons, Terry, Chris, and Jeff. Her life for years revolved around them and their activities. Later, she doted on her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her large Cottongim extended family has two reunions annually, and she so loved seeing everyone. These were some of her favorite days.


Julia Ann always loved music. She sang alto in a trio at Stillwater High School, was a member of the A&M opera club, and sang in the choir at the EUB church as a young woman. She had a piano in the home, and always took pleasure in playing.


She was remarkably independent. Widowed at age 50, she lived alone for 43 years. Julia Ann relished a good argument, especially with family members. Two memorable ongoing arguments involved who originated her lime Jello salad recipe and which way clocks changed for daylight savings time. Always convinced she was right, there was no swaying her.


Julia Ann loved to play cards, particularly 10-point pitch. She was serious and always wanted a win, incredibly frustrated by a partner who bid poorly or played illogically. Her laughter, always infectious, was especially so after a wily hand of cards. One of her most memorable traits was her careful attention to her hair, makeup, and clothing. She always looked perfect and pulled together, and her purse always matched her shoes.


Julia Ann is preceded in death by her husband, Donald Dean Brown, brothers Yoris Manley Cottongim, Jr. and his wife Rosalie (Frye), and Leon Keith Cottongim and his wife Ellie (Miller), nephews Kevin Keith Cottongim and Scott Anthony Cottongim.

She is survived by sons Terry Neal Brown and wife Pamela (Unruh), Chris Alan Brown and wife Margaret (Poehling), and Jeffrey Lynn Brown; grandchildren Holly Suzanne Brown (Hamilton), Donald Robert Brown, Daniel Paul Brown, and Rachel Marie Brown (Schiavi); great-grandchildren Crosby and Mabel Brown and Logan and Paige Hamilton. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, and their families.


Memorial contributions may be directed to the OSU Foundation, 400 South Monroe, Stillwater OK 74074, fund #21-41910, The Dr. Donald D. Brown Family Memorial Scholarship in Agricultural Education.


The family extends many thanks for the tender care provided by Woody Jenkins, MD, Michelle MacDonnell, MD, the staff of Golden Oaks Village, and the caregivers of Judith Karman Legacy Hospice.