Margaret Brown

MARGARET SUE BROWN

Adair

Margaret Sue Brown, 73,

of Adair, passed away April 30, 2020. She was born to the late Cleo and Ruth Trier in Washington, Iowa, on Jan.

24, 1947.

In May 1965, Margaret graduated from Keota High School and married the love of her life, Gilbert Brown. Together for the last 55 years, they made their married home in the towns of Keota, Washington and Adair.

Over the years, Margaret served in many capacities. Some of her favorites and most well-known were as janitor of Keota Elementary School. She was famous for her birthday bulletin boards in the hallway. She was owner and cook Brown's Country Pizza in Keota, and a main union representative at Fansteel in Washington, Iowa. Twenty-five years ago, Gib and Margaret made the decision to move to Adair to be able to participate in their nine grandkids lives as they grew up. During her time in Adair, she ran another small restaurant for a time being before starting and running her own cleaning company for several years.

Margaret retired a few years ago and during retirement you would find her at grandkids favorite activities, cooking for her family any chance she got and, in her most recent days, sewing over 100 lap quilts for residents in local nursing homes.

No matter what profession Margaret found herself in her main priority and love was her family, which she lovingly called her "babies" (kids and grandkids). Margaret loved to bake and cook for her family, chocolate chip cookies being the all-time favorite. She always was thinking of ways she could live on with her grandkids even when she passed. In the last several years, she made recipe boxes for each grandchild with hand-written family recipes and baby quilts for each grandchild – for their first baby. She always put her family before her needs, even until the end. In her last few years, she slowly declined in health due to rheumatoid arthritis and spent more and more time at home with Gib, enjoying frequent visits with her family.

Margaret is survived by her husband of 55 years, Gilbert Brown; two daughters, Susan (Tim) Schafer of Adair and Sheryl Richter (Dennis) of Stuart; nine grandchildren, Dakota (Allison) Schafer of Adair, McKenna (Justin) Keck of Adair, Navey Schafer (Jacob) of Adair, Cross Schafer of Adair, Jacob Reed (Majda) of Cedar Falls, Joshua Reed of Cedar Falls, and Tate Richter, Gracie Richter and Maya Richter of Stuart; and one great-grandchild on the way. She also is survived by three sisters and two brothers and a number of other loving relatives and friends.

The family wishes to sincerely thank all of those at Guthrie County Hospital who cared for her during her last days.

A celebration of life will be announced and held in Margaret's honor in the coming weeks in Adair. Memorials may be directed toward Guthrie County Hospital.