Mary Louisa Brown

Mary Louisa Brown, aka Mary Lou, Lisa, Lu-lu, Lucy-Lou, passed away January 6, 2016 after an extended bout with dementia, followed by a body failing to support. Her life unfolded like a butterfly. A caterpillar of sorts during her formative years, she continued to mature as a Naval officer, maturing in the chrysalis-like cocoon of military life. At retirement, the transformation was complete, and like a butterfly, she spread her wings and flew through the gardens of Folk Dancing, International Tour Directing, hiking, wind-surfing, music, nature, friends and family, to name just a few. Her favorite color was the blue-green of the SW Indian turquoise jewelry she wore and the Blue Morpho butterfly. Ironically, but appropriately, during the last days of palliative care, the door to her room bore the blue-green butterfly symbol, to indicate that she was under the ward's special comfort care. She was born in Asheville, the 3rd of three daughters to Robert Southgate Brown and Margret Lee Ware Brown. Her first six years were spent in "my passive-receptive-dependent position of childhood wherein my needs for love, care and support were provided" * much like a developing caterpillar. Family life included lots of music, hiking, camping and exploring nature, flowers, trees and birds: all of which continued throughout her energetic life. After graduating from Lee H. Edwards High School (now Asheville High School), which included playing the clarinet in the band, she followed in her father's and sisters' footsteps by graduating in 1948 from Duke University. She served 20 years as a WAVE Officer in the Navy before retiring in 1973 having achieved one of the highest ranks awarded to women at that time, Lt. Commander. Her charming yet strong willed nature allowed for many assignments: She served as a Human Relations Specialist while in Seattle, Washington. She coordinated the Bob Hope Christmas Tours as the Naval Military Liason for his Middle East Tours in the late 50's – early sixties, and served as the Naval Military attaché to NATO when she lived in Naples, Italy for 3 years. She took time while stationed in Italy to travel to many European countries, reveling in the food, culture and experiences of the different cultures. After reassignment to the Pentagon, she was bitten by the "folk dance bug" by an insistent, inclusive teacher. She began taking her holidays in lands where folk dancing was included. It was a foreshadowing of her future lifestyle as a beautiful butterfly. After her Navy retirement, she began a dual career as a folk dance instructor and an international tour director, traveling the world with tour groups, folk dance groups and family/friends. Her personal travels almost always included dance and music. She was an avid hobbyist with an unending amount of curiosity and interests. She taught herself many skills: photography, calligraphy, Tolle painting, candle making. She played the piano, the guitar and the dulcimer. New ways of thinking would draw her in for exploration and she shared her thoughts with her sisters. She became a prolific letter writer coving topics from the writings of people like nutritionist Andrew Weil, to Kubler-Ross, to modern day brain strategists. Her favorite TV interviewer was erudite Charlie Rose. Her library was diverse and complex. A woman of many interests and talents, she never married but the story is that the last of the 3 close calls was scuttled because her intended was flippant about the importance of dogs. Dogs were always in her life, having grown up with pugs, she ventured toward boxers and kept company with a boxer-wolf in Italy named Guiyong. She and her sisters were proficient in Pig-Latin and used it frequently to disguise their conversations in the company of her 7 nephews and 1 niece! Always emotionally close to her family despite her gypsy ways, she was extremely generous and would send boxes of goodies from her travels and the many lands she visited to her sisters and their families. She would entertain them with stories, good music, dance outings, hikes etc., whenever her travels brought them together. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Margret Brown Lehmann and husband Henry H. Lehmann, her sister Jane Brown Furman and husband Robert Brooke Furman Sr. and 2 of their sons Robert B. Furman Jr. and George B. Furman. She is survived by her one niece, Margret Louisa Furman Carswell (her namesake) of San Antonio, TX, her nephews Richard L. Furman (and wife Irene) (her caretakers for the last 4 ½ years) of Blacksburg, VA, Michael D. Furman (and wife Jennifer) of London, UK, William W. Furman (and wife Karen) of Kennesaw, GA., Robert H. Lehmann of Warrenton, NC and James R. Lehmann of Glendale Springs, NC. A Memorial Service conducted by nephew and Deacon Richard L. Furman will be held at the Groce Funeral Home chapel on Patton Ave. at 10:00 AM on Saturday, July 23, 2016. Lisa will join her 14 relatives in the family plot in Riverside Cemetery. Her family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to your local Animal Defense League in her name.