Josephine Brown

Josephine Brown, 84, of Gatesville passed away on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, in a Katy care center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 3, 2012, at the First Baptist Church of Gatesville with Davey Gibson officiating. Burial will follow at Restland Cemetery. Visitation is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. at funeral home on Friday, March 2, 2012. Jo was born on July 24, 1927 in Morrilton, Arkansas, to the late Glen and Sibyl McGee Verden. She moved to the Texas Panhandle before the age of 2. She received her high school diploma from Lakeview High School in 1945. She graduated from Texas Tech University in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. She taught homemaking for 11 years at Plains High School in Plains, Texas. She married J.W. “Casey” Brown on June 25, 1956, in Lovington, New Mexico. They moved to Gatesville in 1960. She taught Practical Arts at Gatesville Junior High School until 1965. After she received her Master’s Degree in Education from Baylor University in 1965, she became junior high counselor. She held this job until her retirement in 1987 after 38 years as an educator. She was a member for more than 50 years and taught many different Sunday School classes at the First Baptist Church of Gatesville and served on numerous committees including serving with Pre-school Academy. She had been an active member of Gamma Alpha chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society of America, serving as treasurer for 18 years. Jo worked with the GED testing center at the high school after retiring. She helped with the Mound Volunteer Fire Department in fundraising activities and served as the president of the Coryell County Retired Teachers for a number of years. She taught many people how to do ceramics, which she enjoyed as a hobby. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Casey Brown; a sister, Sonya Hignight; and a brother-in-law, Jim Pitcock. Jo is survived by her sister, Sandy Pitcock of Katy, TX; brothers, James and Myrtle Verden of Wheeler, TX; Bill and Evelyn Verden of Haskell, TX; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family members. The family requests memorials be made to the scholarship fund for the Gamma Alpha International of America of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society (Barbara Huntley, 749 CR 149, Gatesville, TX 76528) or the Coryell County Retired Teachers (Velva Riddle, 2521 Lowrey Dr., Gatesville, TX 76528), First Baptist Church of Gatesville or another favorite charity.