MARY ELLEN BROWN HUSBAND, 84, of Carefree, Arizona, formerly of Chester, Illinois, matriarch of the Husband family, avid traveler, Silver Fox, the original sassy pants and reigning high scorer in all versions of solitaire passed away at 10:50 pm Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at her home in Carefree, Arizona surrounded with the love of her family. She was born to Harry and Isabelle Caroline (nee: Knott) Brown on April 24, 1929 in Chester, IL, their only child. Mary was born in the apartment above the Chester Jailhouse where her grandfather was the Sheriff. She was married to Roy Husband Jr. Mary later moved to the St. Louis area where she developed a love for the blues and jazz as well as mastered the jitterbug at an early age. Even late in her life, she never hesitated to demonstrate her mastery of the jitterbug at every celebration and never managed to miss a step even when dancing to the likes of Hank Williams, Jr., Tom Jones and George Strait. She was also a connoisseur of all things Billy Ray Cyrus from the debut of his hit song, Achy Breaky Heart, in the early 1990s right up until her final days. Mary spent her later years in Arizona where she moved in the late 80s. Ebullient, strong, hard working and no-nonsense, she was a dazzling figure prominently dressed in purple and fur coats. She had been fascinated with travel since childhood and never missed an opportunity to depart in a flash of purple for a road-trip or train ride. Whether traveling long distances or close to home, Mary loved the finer things in life and especially dining out. You could always expect to enjoy some leftovers when visiting from one of her favorite eateries. Most of all Mary loved God and was the matriarch for her family. She always maintained an extreme sense of pride in her family and graciously encouraged them to seek their path to happiness and success. She encouraged reading and education, and consistently demonstrated her love for reading by the stacks of books she was reading simultaneously, one of her favorite possessions was her Kindle, never leaving home without it. Her impact on her family and the world has been immeasurable. She will be dearly missed by everyone who knew her. Survivors: 6 Children: Lynn, Sue, Jackie, Jane, Diane and Joseph 13 Grandchildren 11 Great Grandchildren Preceded in death by: Parents Graveside Service: 10:00 am. Saturday, April 12, 2014 Paradise Cemetery, Steeleville, IL Visitation: Friday - 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Pechacek-McClure Funeral Home, Chester, Illinois Interment: Paradise Cemetery Steeleville, Illinois
