Dorothy Lee Brown passed from this life on December 18, 2016 at her home in Truth or Consequences, NM at the age of 97. She was born on October 2nd, 1919, the second of five daughters, in Arnett, Ellis County, Oklahoma to Almus and Sadie (McColloch) Shelton.
She graduated from Arnett High School where she was a star basketball player for the Lady Wildcats. In November of 1938 she married Melvin K. Brown of Harmon, Oklahoma. They lived on the family farm until the early 50's when they moved to Clovis, New Mexico so Mel could work for the Santa Fe Railroad. The job required many moves throughout the state finally ending in Hurley, New Mexico.
Dorothy loved to dance starting as a young girl in Oklahoma at barn dances, where her dad played the guitar. She said there was never a shortage of partners because she had so many cousins! Her favorite dance was the waltz and she taught many fellow dancers how to do it. She said she felt like she had truly "Waltzed Across Texas".
After retiring from the State of New Mexico in 1984 in Grant County, she moved to Sierra County to enjoy the many dances. She was a member of the Old Time Fiddlers Association, The Play House Dance Club and was a past Worthy Matron of the Rebeccas in Bayard, New Mexico.
Dorothy is survived by one sister, Florence Scarborough, of Searcy, Arkansas; four children – Donna Gensen of T. or C., NM, Ron Brown and Lori James of Winston, NM, Anita Gensen of Tucson, AZ, and Eva Forman and Earl Neudecker of Caballo, NM; ten grandchildren – Terri Summers and Randy Gensen of Silver City, NM, Dee Brown, Jr. of T. or C., NM, Sherri Muncy of Logan, NM, Scott Whitney of Rio Rancho, NM, Ryan Gensen of Tucson, AZ, Reagan Gensen of Menomonie, Wisconsin, Carolyn Anderson of New Richmond, Wisconsin, Annette Forman of T. or C., NM, and Russell Forman of Silver City, NM; 13/Great-Grandchildren; 10/Great-Great-Grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and special friend, Katherine Hulse, of T. or C., NM.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Mel, in 1979; 3/sisters and their spouses – Irene (Lloyd) Thompson, Leatha (Frank) Dyke and Stella (Joe) Pitts; and brother-in-law, Porter Scarborough.
Services will be held on Tuesday, December 27, 2016, at 10:00 AM at the Christian Church in Arnett, Oklahoma followed by burial in the Harmon Cemetery in Harmon, Oklahoma. Serving as Casket Bearers are her 6/grandsons and Honorary Casket Bearers are her 4/granddaughters.