Jeanie Brown

Mavis Jean “Jeanie” Brown passed away peacefully on October 8, 2025, surrounded by family. Jeanie was born on March 8, 1939 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, growing up with a large extended family. She recently reflected fondly on riding horses and bicycles as a child with friends, her little sister, Ann, and her young uncles.

Jean was a good student, graduating from high school at 17. She then moved to Wichita, Kansas to live with her favorite aunt and uncle, Gladys and Ralph Holbrook, and worked as a telephone operator. It was in Wichita that she met the love of her life, Marlin, through mutual friends. Marlin soon began affectionately calling her Jeanie, as she loved and from that time forward introduced herself.

They married on December 27, 1956 after a short courtship. Following Marlin’s time stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia, the newlyweds returned to Wichita, where Jeanie enjoyed being a Girl Scout troup leader. They made lifelong friends and spent time with Marlin’s family in Wichita and Glen Elder, Kansas.

Their lives changed forever in 1962 when Stacy Ann was born, followed by Penny Sue and Mark Marlin. They moved to Tulsa in 1962, to own and operate Tulsa Radiator Shop. While Marlin built the business, Jeanie ran a tight ship at home and took pride in overseeing the books and billing.

Marlin and Jeanie moved their family to an acreage outside Inola in 1970. The kids enjoyed farm life and attended Gregory Elementary School, where Jeanie served as treasurer and in other roles in the Parent Teacher Organization. She also served her church teaching a ladies Sunday School class and as treasurer. Jeanie had a strong and abiding faith and even in the throes of her own illness continued to pray for friends and family.

Hospitality was one of Jeanie’s greatest gifts, hosting impromptu gatherings after church on Sunday nights and extended family on the 4th of July and other holidays. A former pastor and friend recently shared his memory of one of the times she invited his family for a meal. It was the weekend before Thanksgiving, and she served them a full Thanksgiving spread, even though she would be doing it all over again in a few days for her family. Jeanie was there to help anyone. Their door was always open, hosting family and friends in times of joy or crisis.

Jeanie loved playing cards, dominoes and games and was a fierce and fun competitor. She had a great sense of humor but was known to laugh at inopportune moments. She enjoyed swimming and time around the pool and at the lake. Jeanie and Marlin loved to dance, whether on a dance floor or around the living room. All of these memories her children will cherish. Jeanie loved to garden and was a skilled seamstress. Later in life, she learned to quilt by watching her Amish friends. In their retirement, Jeanie and Marlin traveled to all 50 states, Canada and Mexico. Jeanie especially enjoyed Alaska, New England and Utah, journaling and creating a photo album for each trip.

Jeanie and Marlin also loved the Tulsa Ice Oilers hockey team and were committed boosters, serving homemade meals to the players and their families and becoming friends with those around them in the arena. Jeanie took visiting grandchildren to the games, disregarding any suggested bedtimes. She savored being Grandma to each grandchild and GiGi to each great-grandchild, and had an exceptional way of making each feel loved and special.

Jeanie was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Marlin; her parents, Ola and Herb Hubbard; her devoted grandmother Laura Holbrook; her sister, Beverly Ann Livingston and her aunt and uncles that were more like siblings, Glenn Hubbard, Tom Hubbard, Hersie Mae Gates, Bill Hubbard, Ronnie Hubbard and Ralph Dean Hubbard. She is survived by her daughters, Stacy Andrews (Kevin) of Rutledge, TN and Penny Wilbourn (Gordon) of Little Rock, AR; son Mark Brown (Darlene) of Gainesville, GA; grandchildren Kara Ring (Travis), Jake Andrews (Amanda), Anna Wilbourn (Emma), Blaine Brown, Miller Wilbourn, Grace Barber (Sam) and Rachel Wilbourn; great-grandchildren Hadley and Harper Ring, Claire and Eli Andrews, and Josiah Barber; numerous nephews and nieces, great and great-great nieces and nephews; and friends, including her dear friend and caregiver Tammy Spinazzola.

A Memorial Service will be held at First Baptist Church, Inola, on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. with a preceding visitation at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Sweeten Cemetery in Inola. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church, Inola or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.