Joanne C. Brown

Joanne C. Brown, 83, of 400 Laurel Boulevard, Pottsville, formerly of Jacksonville, Florida, Lake Helen, Florida, and Laceyville, PA went home to her Lord on Wednesday, May 27th at Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian St., Pottsville. She was born on July 11, 1925 in Mountain Top daughter of the late Kasson and Lucille Wakeman Rair. She spent her childhood in Mountain Top, Forty Fort, and Laceyville because her father worked for the Lehigh Valley Railroad. She graduated from Laceyville High School in 1943. During World War II, she served her country in the Women's Army Corps. During the war she was also employed at Lancaster Vinyl. She spent most of her years as a homemaker but was also employed at Place's Family Store and Caswell's IGA in Laceyville. She was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and was actively involved in Skinner's Eddy United Methodist Church, Laceyville:, the First United Methodist Church, Deland, Florida: the Wesconnett United Methodist Church, Jacksonville, Florida: and the First United Methodist Church, Pottsville. She participated in the United Methodist Women at each of these churches and was in the choir at Skinner's Eddy United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Harmonettes choral group in Lake Helen, Florida. She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Ronald W. Brown, and her brothers Richard and Bernard. She is survived by her daughter, Lynne G. Bressi and her husband Charles, Pottsville: 2 sons, Gail K. Brown and his wife Carol, Jacksonville, Florida, and Stephen J. Brown and his wife Donnalyn, Orange Park, Florida: 2 step-children, Ronald V. Brown, Middletown, New York and Sharon Chamberlain, Largo, Florida: her sister, Phyllis J. Singer, Frost Proof, Florida: her seven granddaughters, Amy Babcock, Sara Bressi Nath, Shannon Greer, Kelly Gleaton, Kristen Brown, Erica Brown, and Jessica Brown: 8 great grandchildren, Maxwell, Reilly, Taylor, Sara, Daniel, Jacob, Lauren, Treylyn: 2 nieces, Claudia McGill, Springfield, Missouri and Jacklyn Espinoza, Clewiston, Florida: and her faithful companion Buster Brown. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held Saturday, July 18, 2009 from the First United Methodist Church, Pottsville, with the Rev. Storm Hutchinson officiating. Relatives and friends are invited to call from 10:00 A.M. until time of services Saturday at the church. The family prefers remembrances in the form of contributions made to either the Pottsville Branch of the Salvation Army, 400 Sanderson St., Pottsville, PA 17901 or Mercy Mission, First United Methodist Church, 4th & W. Market St., Pottsville, PA 17901. Interment will be at the Lacey Street Cemetery, Laceyville, PA. James E. Humphrey Funeral Home, Pottsville, is in charge of arrangements.