OBITUARY: Theresa Marie Brown, 92, Passed Away Peacefully at Home in Indialantic
By Space Coast Daily // June 11, 2023
She was a wonderful, loving and supportive wife and mother
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – On May 9, 2023, our universe lost one of its brightest stars when Theresa Marie Brown (Terry), mom, grandma, and great-grandma (“GG”), passed away peacefully at home in Indialantic Florida, at the age of 92.
Born August 19, 1930, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Terry attended Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles.
On December 28, 1950, she married Duane Brown, a fellow North Dakotan and the love of her life. They would have ten children and 43 years of happiness together until he passed away in 1994 at the age of 64. She took loving care of him at home throughout his final months.
Their journey together started in New Haven, CT, while Duane was completing his undergraduate and graduate degrees in mathematics at Yale and the University of Minnesota.
Terry was at his side throughout his entire educational and early employment endeavors, which took them from Connecticut, Missouri, Maryland and finally to the Melbourne area, settling in Indialantic in 1958, where Duane was a pioneer within the space program. Together they founded two successful local high-tech companies (DBA Systems and Geodetic Services).
In the early days, Terry worked alongside her husband, keeping the books and (him) in order while also caring for their always-growing family.
She was a wonderful, loving, and supportive wife and mother who, in the midst of raising her large family, still found time to be a member of the Junior League and school PTA’s and involved in many volunteer programs, her favorite being reading for the blind.
She made many sacrifices to put her family first. With the kids grown, she resumed her long-delayed education, getting a Ph.D. in psychology from Florida Tech in Melbourne in 1987. She then went on to complete her residency at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
This time Duane was at her side with encouragement and support. Although she never used her degree professionally, she quite often put it to work with any number of her family members throughout the years all the way up to the end.
Their businesses allowed them to travel extensively around the globe for many technical conferences. Later Terry continued her many travels around the world, often and bravely on her own as well as with dear friends and other family members.
Her greatest pleasure was her family. Particularly the joy of her nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and the latest family addition, 2-year-old Addison, who was of great amusement and comfort to “GG” in her final months.
Terry is survived by children Richard, John (Cindy), Chris, Patrice, Jerry, and Peter (Heather), Grandchildren, Laura (Josh), Hungerford, Damien, Nicholas, Theresa Pace, Dana, Bryanna, Shelby, Danny Brown, Great grandchildren Ryan, Caleb Hungerford, Addison Brown,).
Terry was a very wise woman with an exceptional wit and sense of humor. She enjoyed giving advice, crossword puzzles, cooking, and gardening into her final days until she departed this world with dignity and grace to be with Jesus.
There will be a private family service in July at the family’s mountain house on Little Mt. Pisgah, near Asheville, NC. This was Terry and Duane’s happy place, which they built in the early 80s and delighted in spending many summers in the glorious Blue Ridge Mountains. The children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren continue to enjoy the family home.
Besides gardening and observing the mountain wildlife, it was her great pleasure watching her bird feeders, particularly her beloved hummingbirds. It is where her ashes will be placed in the family memorial garden known as the “Shady Place.” She will join Duane and many of the loved ones who went before her, and they are now reunited for eternity in God’s great kingdom.
A celebration of life will also be held in the Melbourne area at a time and place to be determined.
