Marian J. Brown

Marian Joyce Brown, 76, passed from this life at home peacefully on November 25, 2014. She was born in East St. Louis, Illinois. She was the mother of 5 children, plus 2 stepchildren with her marriage to Dick Brown in 1981. She held numerous positions with the Department of the Air Force, Civil Service culminating with her last position as Secretary to the Base Commander at Keesler Air Force Base. She retired in 1998 with over 20 years of service. However, she was best known for her service to her husband, family, and community. After Katrina, she and her husband were very involved in the FEMA recovery efforts to help others rebuild their homes and their lives. She was also involved in the efforts to build a new Catholic church to replace the one their parish outgrew. She supported Dick and all who were involved in the efforts to make Diamondhead a city. She enjoyed many years of boating, fishing, and traveling in their RV. Her busy calendar included not only kids' and grandkids' special events and family gatherings, but also many Mardi Gras balls and socials, evenings at the performing arts, and numerous other city and county functions.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Edna Layton; brother Robert Layton, great-grandchildren Billy, Reese, and Scotlyn. She is survived by her husband of 34 years, Richard Brown; her children Virginia Cabell (Bruce) of Waveland; Georgia Huelsman (Bobby) of Freeburg, IL.; James R. Brennan Jr. (Lori) of Ocean Springs; Caroline Hess (Cory) of Flint, TX.; and Mariland Hendley (Brian) of Madison, MS.;
Her stepchildren Kelly Springer of Kansas City, MO.; and Kristin Shelton of Kansas City, KS.; eighteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 - 11:00 am on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014 at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church followed by a Catholic Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Fr. Mike O'Connor at 11:00 am.
A short reception will follow mass in the reception room behind the church. Family members and friends who wish to attend the graveside service at the National Cemetery in Biloxi can do so following the reception at 2:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the Pink Heart Funds of Long Beach @ www.pinkheartfunds.org, or Notre Dame Hospice WWW.NOTREDAMEHOSPICE-NO.ORG
The RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, Kiln DeLisle Road, is serving the family and an online guestbook may be signed at www.riemannfamily.com