Carolyn Sue Campbell Brown's Obituary
Carolyn Sue Campbell Brown, 81, of Longview, Texas, passed away on Saturday, August 25, 2018. Carolyn was born in Center, Texas, on August 24, 1937, to Emmitt and Twila Campbell. She met Bill Brown from Tenaha in the summer of 1953, and that began a relationship that resulted in them being married for 60 years. After proudly graduating from Center High School (Class of 1956), Carolyn went on to further her education at Kilgore College, where she was a Kilgore Rangerette.
She and Bill Brown married in 1958, and soon had their two oldest sons, Mike and Mark. Bill worked in the oil and gas business which necessitated living in a variety of places (College Station, Texas; Shreveport and Houma, Louisiana; and then to Tyler, Texas) before moving to Carthage. Once the boys were in school, Carolyn decided to finish her degree. She and a group of young women would commute daily to Nacogdoches to attend Stephen F. Austin University, where she received her elementary teaching degree.
After Carolyn received her teaching degree, she and Bill moved to Shreveport, Louisiana. Carolyn taught seventh grade for one year. Then she and Bill had their last son, David, in 1968. With three boys to raise, and another move and transfer to Lafayette, Lousiana, Carolyn decided it was time to retire from teaching. The family moved once again to Houston in 1976, where they lived until moving to Longview in 1981.
Carolyn loved people, and working with people, too. She spent many years in Longview actively serving in her church, Greggton United Methodist. A member of the Welmaker Joy Sunday School class for over 30 years, she was the Meals on Wheels Coordinator for many years, and also coordinated the annual United Methodist Women’s pecan sale. She also served on various committees in the church, and even enjoyed working the VBS snack room for many years.
When she wasn’t serving at the church, Carolyn loved to visit Center and all of her friends and family in Center. One thing that she really enjoyed was returning for various festivals and Center Roughrider Alumni events. She maintained many long lasting friendships over the years with friends from childhood, and if you met Carolyn, you would soon hear all about Shelby County and her friends and family there.
Not only will Carolyn be remembered for her love of her family, her home place, and her church, she will also be remembered for her love of Aggie football. During their 60 year marriage, Bill and Carolyn were two fervent Aggie fans; rarely did a home game take place without them being in the stands at Kyle Field to cheer on their beloved team. She and Bill made many lifelong friendships with fellow Aggie alumni, and they so loved going together to Aggie games over the years.
Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents, Emmitt Campbell and Twila Biggers Campbell, and sister, Mary Campbell Keeter. Family members left to cherish her memory are her husband, William A. (Bill) Brown, of Longview; her son, Mike, and his wife, Ann of Tyler; son, Mark Brown of Allen, Texas; and son, David, and his wife, Jeanna, of Henderson. Immediate family members also include grandsons, Noah and Clay Brown of Tyler; and granddaughters, Piper and Madyn Brown of Henderson. She will also be missed by so many of her longtime friends, of which there are too many to name.
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