Gloria Mae Stephenson Brown, age 84, passed peacefully from this mortal life April 11, 2020 and returned to her Heavenly home above. We are grateful that she is now free from her tired, worn out body, and is now reunited with beloved family and friends.

Gloria was born January 1, 1936 in Holden, Utah to Mark Stephenson and Bertha Bushnell. She had two older sisters whom she adored:  Veleta and Margene. After her mother passed away when Gloria was 10 years old, her father married Vera Wagstaff McCleary, and Gloria gained two fine step brothers:  Leon and Lynn.

Gloria grew up in the Salt Lake City, Utah area and attended Murray High School where she played the French horn in the marching band. She met her future husband, Donald Pratt Brown, when she was a sophomore in high school and he was a sophomore at the University of Utah. Don was working as a checker in a local grocery store where Gloria’s stepbrother, Leon, also worked. They married in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints April 7, 1955 a year after Gloria graduated from High School.

Don and Gloria lived in Washington D.C. for two years while Don worked for the NSA while serving in the USAF.  Their first child, Donald Mark Brown, was born during this time.  After their assignment was over, they moved to Richland, Washington where Don has worked with various companies over the years as an Electrical Engineer. They were blessed with five more children.

In the midst of her busy life, Gloria returned to school and earned an Associates of Arts and Sciences degree from Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Washington.

Gloria loved reading books, and instilled this love in all her children.  She loved music, ice cream, watermelon, popcorn, root beer floats, boat rides on the Columbia River, sewing and gardening.  But most of all Gloria loved her family, her friends, serving in the Seattle and Columbia River Temples with Don, family history work, teaching seminary, smiling at strangers, baking pies and cookies and bread to give to neighbors and friends.  She loved her Savior, Jesus Christ, and many lives were touched as she shared her testimony and love to all through her example of service, charity and unconditional love.

Gloria leaves behind her loving and devoted husband, Donald Pratt Brown. Children:  Donald Mark Brown (Nancy), Junice Woodworth (Robert), Carolyn Ross (John), Janet Gillis (Paul), Margene Clarke (Steven), Stephen Pratt Brown, and Lona Hillman Brown, 30 grandchildren, and 35 great-grandchildren.

We would like to thank all those who have expressed their love and given service to Gloria over the last couple of years as her health declined.  May you always remember her smile, her testimony, and her love for you.