Penney Brown

Penney Wallace Brown went to heaven at 2:41 pm on May 6, 2014. Penn Rose (Penney) Wallace was born in Canton, Texas, on March 25, 1919, to William Penn and Winnie Ola (Sullivan) Wallace. She was the youngest of eleven children. At a Chamber of Commerce meeting the day she was born, her father drew her name out of a hat of suggestions that included his middle name. Penney graduated from Taft High School in 1937 and, soon after, moved to Beeville to live with her sister, Margaret Henry Wallace Lane. She became a Deputy Sheriff to Sheriff J. B. Arnold. Penney soon made friends with the young people of the town and many would attend the Methodist church one day a week and the Baptist church another. She met and began dating Edwin Brown and they were soon engaged. Penney was Edwin's date for the 1939 Cavalry Ball at Texas A & M College in College Station, Texas where Edwin was Commander of the Cavalry. Edwin and Penney were married November 4, 1939, at the home of her sister in Beeville. They lived in San Antonio at first but soon decided that Beeville and Brown Ranch were where they wanted to be. During WWII, Penney kept the home fires burning and it was with great relief that Edwin came home from the war to his family in 1945. They lived the rest of their married life of 62 years, happily, on Brown Ranch. She and Edwin raised their three children in the First Baptist Church where Penney was active in many things, most especially, the Woman's Missionary Union, and she spent many years teaching the Nursery Sunday School. Penney became more beautiful with each passing year. Her sweet spirit was always reflected in her face and demeanor. She is regarded by her family as the best wife, mother, hostess, cook, grandmother, friend and, most importantly, the best Christian woman in all of south Texas! She was quite a lady! She will be sorely missed. Penney was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin, in 2001, and by her parents, and her brothers and sisters, many years before. She was blessed and is survived by two daughters, Anafair Brown Butts of Beeville, Susan Brown Smith and husband Gary of Georgetown; and one son, Austin Edwin Brown II and wife Nana of Beeville; eight grandchildren, Lisa Johnson and husband John of Beeville, Devin Butts and wife Alison of Floresville, Bonni Brennan of Victoria, Kelley Fair Matheny and husband Michael of Prattville, Alabama, Austin Edwin Brown III and wife Jody of Beeville, Case Edwin Brown and wife Danni of New Braunfels, Reed Smith and wife Becca of Leander, and Drew Smith of Georgetown; fifteen great-grandchildren, Brooke Kearney and husband Thomas of San Antonio, Cody Johnson of Beeville, Alexandria Butts of Austin, Austin Edwin Brown IV and Addie Ruth Brown of Beeville, Brennan, Kenzi, Khyli, and Braeden Proctor of Victoria; Riley Fair and Gage Matheny of Prattville, Alabama; Case Edwin Brown II and Weston Brown of New Braunfels; Grayton and Adler Smith of Leander; and one great-great-grandchild, Olivia Anne Kearney of San Antonio and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday, May 8, 2014 at Galloway and Sons Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church at on Friday, May 9, 2014 at 11 am. Services will be conducted by Greg Traylor, Homer Hanna, and Gary Smith. Music will be provided by Devin Butts and Mary Ellen Thoms. Internment will follow at Glenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons Devin Butts, Austin Brown III, Case Brown, Reed Smith, and Drew Smith; grandsons-in-law John Johnson and Michael Matheny; and family friend Stephen Martin. Honorary pallbearers are Clyde Lacy, Mark Sugarek, Jerry Dunson, Jerry Taylor, Gary Jones, Dr Joe Larakers, Nubbin Ginn and Charles Arnold. Memorial gifts may be made to South Texas Children's Home, First Baptist Church, or to a charity of your choice.