Frances Brown

Mary Frances Gandy Brown, 86, of Artesia, New Mexico, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday December 20, 2017. Frances, as she was known to all, was born on June 21, 1931 in Rogers, Texas to Robert Herbert Gandy and Mary Florence Davis Gandy. She graduated from Temple High School in 1948 and married Thomas E. Brown, Jr, on November 22, 1949 at home in Temple, Texas. Tom survives her at the family home. Frances took some classes at Baylor University while waiting for Tom to graduate and they moved to Artesia in 1951.

The Brown's have three children, MaryAnn Brown of Westminster, CA, Paula Brown Miller of Roswell, NM and Thomas E. Brown, III (AKA Tracy) and his wife Wendy Forbes Brown of Albuquerque, NM. In addition, they also have 2 granddaughters, Mary Michelle Miller Pisciotta and her husband Tom of Frisco,TX and Anna Cassidy Brown and her fiancé Zack Grunewald of Tulsa, OK. Frances loved her granddaughters and was there when they were born. Michelle, who was born on Frances's birthday, spent a great deal of times with her Grannye and Papa. Frances and Michelle called each other "frick and frack" and traveled together for many years. Cassidy considered Frances one of her main role models and her hero.

In addition to the immediate family, Frances is survived by her brother Leslie Gandy and his wife Myra of Stephenville, TX and her sister-in-law Ruby Gandy of Temple, TX. She is also survived by Mary Butcher Macaulay ( the Browns' Foreign Exchange Student she considered her adopted daughter ) and Mary's husband Phil of Perth, Australia; her niece Linda Rosenkranz Miller and her husband Walt of Houston, TX; her niece Karen Fisher Chirico and family and her niece Anita Fisher Cohen, her husband Jeff and family, both of Phoenix, AZ; her niece Robyn Gandy South and her nephew Robert David Gandy of Temple, TX; and her niece Leslie Lynn Gandy Wills and family of Stephenville, TX.

Preceding Frances in death were her father, Robert Herbert Gandy; her mother Mary Florence Davis Gandy Mooring; her sister Laura Gandy Rosenkranz and her brother-in-law Fred Rosenkranz; her nephew Freddie Rosenkranz; her niece Patricia Rosenkranz Krysinski and her husband Tom Krysinski and their son David; her brother Robert Herbert Gandy and her sister Doris Gandy Fisher and brother-in-law J. K. Fisher.

Frances was a lifelong Baptist and a member of First Baptist Church of Artesia where she taught Sunday School. She was a member of PEO Chapter J in Artesia for many years. She also belonged to several bridge clubs in Artesia and continued to play for many years after her Alzheimer's diagnosis. Frances was blessed with many friends that she met in Artesia and those from around the state that she met in Santa Fe while Tom was in the New Mexico Legislature and was later lobbying. The time spent in Santa Fe and her "Need for Speed" was also the main reason she was on a first name basis with many of the State Police Officers that patrolled US285. Frances and her friends liked to spend time together at least once a year. The "Good Time Girls" met in Ruidoso for a few days each year to catch up and play cards. Her Artesia friends celebrated someone's birthday each month and several of her friends may or may not have helped Frances roll an outhouse from a construction site down the alley (you know who you are). Corine Guzman became her caretaker and friend and along with the efforts of Tom and daughter Paula helped Frances to stay at home for as long as she did. Thank you to all who knew, loved and cared for Frances.

No services will be held at this time. A memorial service will be scheduled after the holidays. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to PEO Chapter J Artesia, First Baptist Church of Artesia, or to The Alzheimer's Association.