Theresa Marie Brown

Born on August 19, 1930 in Grand Forks, North Dakota
Departed May 9, 2023 in Indialantic, Florida

On May 9th, 2023 our universe lost one of its brightest stars when Theresa Marie Brown (Terry), mom, grandma, and great-grandma (“GG”), passed away peacefully at home in Indialantic Fl, at the age of 92. Born August 19, 1930 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Terry attended Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles. On December 28, 1950, she married Duane Brown, a fellow North Dakotan, and the love of her life. They would have 10 children and 43 years of happiness together until he passed away in 1994, at the age of 64. She took loving care of him at home throughout his final months.
Their journey together started, in New Haven, CT while Duane was completing his undergraduate and graduate degrees in mathematics at Yale and the University of Minnesota.
Terry was at his side through out his entire educational and early employment endeavors, which took them from Connecticut, Missouri, Maryland and finally to the Melbourne area, settling in Indialantic in 1958, where Duane was a pioneer within the space program. Together they founded two local successful high-tech companies (DBA systems and Geodetic Services). In the early days Terry worked alongside her husband keeping the books and (him) in order while also caring for their always growing family.
She was a wonderful, loving and supportive wife and mother who, in the midst of raising her large family still found time to be a member of the Junior League, school PTA’s and involved in many volunteer programs, her favorite being reading for the blind . She made many sacrifices to put her family first. With the kids grown, she resumed her long-delayed education, getting a PHD in psychology from Florida Tech in Melbourne in 1987. She then went on to complete her residency at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. This time Duane was at her side with encouragement and support. Although she never used her degree professionally, she quite often put it to work with any number of her family members throughout the years—all the way up to the end!
Their businesses allowed them to travel extensively around the globe for many technical conferences. Later Terry continued her many travels around the world often and bravely on her own as well as with dear friends and other family members.
Her biggest pleasure was her family. Particularly the joy her 9 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and the latest family addition, 2 year-old Addison, who was of great amusement and comfort to “GG” in her final months.
Terry is survived by children Richard, John (Cindy), Chris, Patrice, Jerry and Peter (Heather), Grandchildren, Laura (Josh), Hungerford, Damien, Nicholas, Theresa Pace, Dana, Bryanna, Shelby, Danny Brown, Great grandchildren Ryan, Caleb Hungerford, Addison Brown,).
Terry was a very wise woman with an exceptional wit and sense of humor. She enjoyed giving advice, crossword puzzles, cooking and gardening into her final days, until she departed this world with dignity and grace to be with Jesus.
There will be a private family service in July at the family’s mountain house on Little Mt. Pisgah, near Asheville, NC. This was Terry and Duane’s happy place which they built in the early 80s and delighted in spending many summers in the glorious Blue Ridge Mountains. The children and grandchildren and great grandchildren continue to enjoy the family home. Besides gardening, observing the mountain wildlife, it was her great pleasure watching her bird feeders particularly her beloved hummingbirds. It is there her ashes will be placed in the family memorial garden known as the “Shady Place”. She will join Duane and many of the loved ones who went before her, where they are now reunited for eternity in Gods great kingdom.
A celebration of life will also be held in the Melbourne area at a time and place to be determined.