MARY C. F. BROWN

   Mary Colin farmer Brown was born July 29, 1901, at Charleston,
Missouri, a daughter, one of eleven children, of the late John
DeKalb and Eliza John (Franklin) Shelby and entered eternal life,
September 28, 1994, in the Gibbs Care Center, Steelville,
Missouri, at the age of 93 years, 1 month and 30 days.
   December 5, 1925, Mary was united in marriage to Willis Farmer
and to this union one son, Jack DeKalb Farmer, and two daughters,
Willis Aileen Farmer and Delphia LaReita Farmer, were born.  He
preceded her in death, March 11, 1939.  She was married to
Theodore Brown, November 22, 1944.  He too preceded her in death,
September 3, 1962.
   Mary was a strong individual, hard working, raising her son and
two daughters after the death of their father.  She was also a
caring and guiding force in the lives of two foster boys, Victor
and Bob Carnahan.  She loved children and demonstrated her love
for them.  She cared for the nursery at the Presbyterian Church
during services for a number of years in order that their parents
could attend church services.
   Mary was also preceded by three brothers and six sisters, Myrtle,
George and Hattie Shelby (as toddlers), Lela Shelby, Nancy Collins,
Mable Dudley Polzin, John Shelby, Hardy Shelby and Jasmine Duke.
   Among those who remain to mourn her passing are her two daughters,
Aileen and husband Charles Hedricks of Cincinnati, Ohio and Delphia
LaReita and husband Paul Ponder of St. James, Missouri; one son
Jack D. Farmer and wife Sara of Steelville, Missouri; one sister,
Jean Shelby of Brookfield, Illinois; two foster sons, Victor Carnahan
of Jacksonville, Florida and Bob Carnahan of Red Bud, Illinois;
thirteen grandchildren, Ted Hendricks and wife Barbara, Scott Hendricks
and wife Muna, Peggy (Hendricks) and husband Jeff Mossbarger all of
Cincinnati, Ohio, Mary (Farmer) and husband Jerry Whitley of Ferguson,
Missouri, Randy Hendricks and wife Jeri of Columbus, Ohio, Lynn
(Farmer) and husband William Holmes of Simi Valley, California, Alyson
(Price) and husband Kenneth Zahringer of Columbia, Missouri, Lela Price
of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Mark Farmer and wife Alynn of Fort Monroe,
Virginia, Neal Farmer and wife Cindy of Murfreesboro, Tennessee,
Adrienne (Price) and husband Greg Cox of Sullivan, Missouri, Nathan
Hendricks and wife Jean of Chicago, Illinois, Christopher Price of
Hot Springs, Arkansas; eighteen great grandchildren; a sister-in-law,
Mable (Mrs. Clarence) Brown of Steelville, Missouri; nieces, nephews,
other relatives and many friends.
   Mary Colin Farmer Brown lay in state after 5 P.M. Friday,
September 30, 1994, at the Britton Bros. Funeral Home, Steelville,
Missouri.  Funeral services were held 10 A.M. Saturday,
October 1, 1994, in the Britton Chapel with Rev. William Birch
officiating.  Musical selections were provided by vocalist Jerry Beers
and organist Deloris Bell.  Committal prayers and interment were in
Brown Cemetery, Steelville, Missouri.
   Pallbearers were Neal Farmer, Ted Hendricks, Randy Hendricks, Scott
Hendricks, Nathan Hendricks, and Chris Price.
   Arrangements were under the direction of Britton Bros. Funeral Home,
Steelville, Missouri.