Dorothy Ann Brown

December 24, 1925 – July 30, 2021

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. Psalm 116.15

Dorothy Ann Brown died Friday morning, July 30, 2021, at the Lutheran Sunset Home in Clifton. She was 95 years old. Her memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, August 8, 2021, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Clifton as part of the regular Sunday worship, according to her wishes. 

Dorothy Ann was born December 24, 1925, in Gary, Indiana, to Milton and Lottie (Huse) Brown. She was baptized February 7, 1926, by Rev. B.C. Swenson. In August 1926 she traveled 1,500 miles with her parents (both native Texans) to Bosque County, where she met her six great-grandparents and her four grandparents.

Dorothy Ann’s parents bought a farm adjourning grandpa Brown’s farm in the Harmony community near Clifton. Consequently, Dorothy Ann was a farm girl until she entered college. Dorothy Ann really did enjoy farm life, even picking cotton, and work was made even more pleasurable because her dad paid by the pound.

Dorothy Ann’s schooling began at Harmony country school where she got her foundation in education. She graduated from Clifton High School in 1943 and from Clifton College in 1945. Dorothy Ann received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Texas in 1947 and her Master of Arts degree in English and Education from Peabody College of Vanderbilt, Nashville, Tennessee in 1951. Dorothy Ann continued her schooling in several colleges, including Abilene Christian University, the University of Denver and the University of Wyoming. 

Since childhood, Dorothy Ann felt called to be a teacher, and she greatly enjoyed teaching for 45 years. She loved each student and saw good potential in everyone. She taught high school English in Morgan, Itasca, Stamford, and Lamar Consolidated in Rosenberg-Richmond, all in Texas.

In 1961 Dorothy Ann accepted a call to be Assistant Dean of Women and part-time teacher of English at Texas Lutheran University, Seguin. In 1967 she was privileged to be the first classroom teacher at Central Texas College in Killeen where she taught English and psychology. Helping to start a new college was very exciting and educational. She was thrilled to receive the Woman Teacher of the Year award for 1967-1968. 

Dorothy Ann was happy to accept the invitation to “return back home” to Texas Lutheran University to teach in the English and education departments. While there, she also pinch-hit in career planning and placement and served a couple of stints as exchange professor to Concordia Lutheran University in Austin. It was a special honor to receive the Distinguished Faculty Award from the Texas Lutheran University Alumni Association.

After a total of 28 years at Texas Lutheran University, Dorothy Ann retired in 1991. She was named Associate Professor Emeritus of Education at Texas Lutheran University. Having taught at four high schools and four colleges, including Clifton College, Dorothy Ann was ready for the involved but enriching activities of retirement.

While in college she had become a member of Sigma Tau Delta (English, honorary) and Kappa Delta Pi (Education, honorary). Subsequently, she became a member of a number of professional organizations including National Council for Teachers of English and Texas Society of College Teachers of Education. A few of the other organizations in which she held membership were American Association of University Women, Business and Professional Women, MidTexas Symphony Board, Friends of the Library, and Texas Folklore Society.

Dorothy Ann authored the book We Sing To Thee: A Story About Clifton College, and several articles such as one published in Texas Outlook about teaching practices, and The Dogs Can Wait, an article in defense of teenagers.

Dorothy Ann’s hobbies included friends, folklore, nature study (birds and Texas wildflowers), table games, and coffee klatsches. She also enjoyed travel and the experiences working in summer camps.

A student during World War II, Dorothy Ann sold war stamps, collected scrap iron, and worked one summer at the Bluebonnet Defense Plant in McGregor at different tasks, including filling 23-pound bombs.

Church was always a special part of Dorothy Ann’s life. She was active in several Lutheran churches and she felt honored to be a charter member of Peace American Lutheran in Rosenberg. She was active in Luther League, Lutheran Student Ministry, and she served from 1973 to 1985 on the board of Lutheran Campus Ministry of Texas.

After moving back to Clifton, Dorothy Ann became active in church and community activities, including the Clifton Civic Improvement Society and Study Guild. She held various positions of leadership in the church and was pleased to worship at Trinity Lutheran where her great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, and many other relatives and friends had worshiped and held leading roles of service.

Dorothy Ann Brown was preceded in death by her parents Milton and Lottie (Huse) Brown; her brother Milton Clyde Brown, Jr. of Steilacoom, Washington; and her uncle, Larry Huse of Clifton. She is survived by her nieces, Kristin Luise Hahn of Charlotte, North Carolina, Kim Marie Pyle of Lakewood, Washington, Kara Lee Blazier of San Jose, California, and Kelly Ann Lenaburg of Tacoma, Washington, and their families.

Dorothy Ann would have you make any memorials to the charity of your choice, but hers were Texas Lutheran University, Trinity Lutheran Church, and Lutheran Sunset Ministries.