Viola E. Brown

Viola Emilie (Baum) Brown passed away Friday, November 27, 2015 at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas at the age of 85. She was born on February 27, 1930 in Susank, Kansas to the late Andrew and Katherine (Schmidt) Baum. She grew up with 13 brothers and sisters and graduated from Russell High School with the Class of 1947. On June 12, 1948 she was united in marriage to Kenneth O. Brown, Sr. in St. John, Kansas. They were blessed with six children, Barb, Linda, Kenny, Greg, Blaine, and Shayne. Viola was a woman of deep faith, love, and commitment. She raised her family and took care of her home while also working alongside her husband as owners and operators of their independent oil production company, Kenny Brown Enterprises. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, and the Order of the Eastern Star. She also found time for playing cards, reading, gardening, making crafts, and of course orchestrating family sing-alongs at every opportunity. The light and delight of Viola’s life was her family. From children all the way to great-great-grandchildren her love grew deeper and her spirit grew stronger with each new generation of family in which she took great pride and was so blessed. Everything she did was to care for those she loved the most, family, friends, and neighbors. Viola will be lovingly remembered by her sons Kenny Brown and wife Rhonda of Zurich, Greg Brown and wife Paula of Merriam, Blaine Brown and wife Amy of Plainville, and Shayne Brown and wife Tierra of Plainville; daughters Barbara West and husband Larry of Plainville, and Linda Ruder and husband Steve of Hays; brothers Leo Baum of Hoisington, George Baum of CA, Kenneth Baum of OH, and Jake Baum of CA; sisters Margaret Bissett of Liberal, Josephine Shreve of Uvalde, TX, Hilda Jacobs of Gorham, and Lydia Kaufman of Great Bend; grandchildren Jenny Plante, Jaymme Arnold, Melissa Schumacher, Todd Ruder, Andrew Brown, Jessica Kerr, Erin Miller, Gabe Miller, Deanna Garvert, Sammy Brown, Brandon Brown, Dalton “DJ” Brown, Sheldyne Brown, Trevyne Brown, and Brogyne Brown; great-grandchildren Chelsey West, Jared Plante, Justin Plante, Taylor Meitler, Dawson Arnold, Cody Schumacher, Courtney Schumacher, Connor Schumacher, Seth Ruder, Hanna Ruder, Blake Ruder, Abby Ruder, Josh Plante, Hannah Headings, Taegan Kerr, Aidyen Kerr, Emerson Lowry, Camille Lowry, Harper Lowry, Joey Miller, Evan Miller, Natalie Garvert, and Ryken Brown; and one great-great-grandchild Lexi Plante. She was preceded in death by her parents Andrew and Katherine Baum; husband Kenneth Brown Sr.; brothers Edward and Emil Baum; sisters Helen Wolford, Mary Mermis, and Rosie Thompson; and grandchildren Travis West, Leslie Brown, and Bo Brown. Viola lived her life as an example to family and friends of faith, hope, and love. Full of mercy and grace she reminded us through her hard work and dedication, that the greatest of these is love. Her great love leaves an even greater legacy of love that will be cherished forever and never forgotten. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at the United Methodist Church in Plainville. Burial will follow at the Plainville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:00-8:00 pm at the funeral home with family receiving friends from 6:00-7:30 pm. Memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church.