Nora Ann Brown
Nora Ann (Rush) Brown went home to be with her heavenly Father on August 19. She was born in the Texas panhandle in March, 1932 to Ernest and Freda Rush and was the oldest of three children. Nora was a graduate of Ft. Sumner High School in Ft. Sumner, N.M., and attended Eastern New Mexico University on a music scholarship, graduating with a B.A. degree in elementary education in 1958. She did additional studies on a master’s degree at Loyola University in Baltimore, Md.
While at ENMU she met Donald J. Brown. Six months later they married and moved to Tucumcari, N.M., where Don was pastor of a Baptist Mission. She became the mother of two children, Gary and Jeannette.
Nora’s teaching career included 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades in Fort Worth, Houston and Dallas, Texas, and Kingsville, Md. Nora was an expert seamstress/quilter. She and the international quilting group she was in made 50 quilts for a blind camp in Kentucky. She also served as pianist or organist in churches through the years.
After completing 20 years teaching, she became a home missionary, along with her husband, through the Southern Baptist’s Home Mission Board, serving as administrative assistant for two Maryland Baptist associations (Blue Ridge and Central) for 20 years.
Nora was a member of First Baptist Church, Sulphur Springs, Texas where she served as missions chairman of the Unity Sunday school class and prayer chairman of the Joy Fenner Woman’s Missionary Union.
Preceding Nora in death were her parents, as well as her sister, Ernestine Dean and her brother, E.E. Rush.
Survivors include her husband Donald and children: Gary Brown (wife Cory) and Jeannette Hickey (husband Ron); grandchildren: Joshua Hickey (wife Olga) and Jessica Miller (husband Kent); great grandchildren: Anthony and Isabella Hickey.
Memorial Service for Nora Ann (Rush) Brown was at First Baptist Church, Sulphur Springs, Texas, on Saturday, September 9. Nora had donated her body for medical science. A private burial service will be held at a later date.