Marjorie A. Brown

Marjorie A. (Whetstone) Brown, age 94, of Wichita, KS, died Monday, November 9, 2026, at her home.

Marjorie was born May 24, 1932, in Independence, MO, the eldest of two children born to Clayton and Beatrice (Gilbert) Whetstone. She attended Rockford Grade School in Hickman Mills, Missouri, from 1st grade through midway through 6th grade, when the family moved to Osawatomie, Kansas, where she completed 6th, 7th, and 8th grades at Stockwell Grade School. She began attending high school in Osawatomie in 1945 and graduated in 1949.

Marjorie married Wilford McDowell in 1950, but the marriage ended in 1955. From this union came two children, Connie Rae and Danny Joe. She then married Theodore Brown on June 29, 1957, in Bartlesville, OK. They lived in many places, including Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Mr. Brown worked for Panhandle Eastern Pipeline and was an over-the-road truck driver. He died in April of 2005. Four children were born to this union: Timothy Alan, Brenda Diane, Clay Martin, and Gayle Denise. This marriage ended in divorce after 30 years. Her oldest son, Aaron Weir Kelstone, was adopted by Ed and Helen Wier and came back into her life in 2002, which was a blessing from God.

During her school years, she was active in the Plum Creek 4-H Club, Methodist youth groups, amateur singing for many community functions and contests, and sports activities. In later years, she was active in the Osawatomie Alumni Association, receiving the Outstanding Alumni Award in 2010. She was an avid sports fan, especially of her Kansas Jayhawk basketball and Kansas City Royals teams. She was on the Board of Directors for PHA for a number of years.

Marjorie was baptized in First Presbyterian Church, Fairmount, MO. She was a member of the First United Church of Hope, KS, for many years, where she taught Sunday school, played the organ, and helped with summer Bible school. She was presently a member of First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, in Perryton, TX.

She devoted her life to her big, beautiful family and was known as “Crazy Grandma” to her great-grandchildren. She had one wish, and that was that all the people, whether young kids, young adults, middle-aged, or old, who passed through her life would somehow be touched by her in some small way.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents; son, Danny Joe McDowell; daughter, Brenda Diane Schneider; son-in-law, Andrew Mack Bowden; and grandchildren, Anthony Bowden and Cera Brozek.

Survivors include her brother, Gerald Whetstone (Eva) of Wichita, KS; children, Aaron (Kim) Kelstone of Rochester, NY, Connie Bowden of Blue Springs, MO, Timothy Brown of McPherson, KS, Clay (Diana) Brown of Forgan, OK, and Gayle (Courtney) of Wichita, KS; 18 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Visitation is from 2-4pm Sunday November 15, 2026 at the Eddy Birchard Funeral Home. Service is 10 am Monday November 16, 2026 Eddy Birchard Chapel. Burial at Osawatomie Cemetery. Memorial Contributions are to the Osawatomie Alumni Association send c/o Eddy Birchard Funeral Home P.O. Box 430, Osawatomie, KS 66064.