‎Mary‎ Anne Brown

After a long and rewarding life, Mary Anne Brown passed away at age 99, on December 17, 2024. She was born August 8, 1925, in Bronxville, New York to James Sterling and Anne Louise Marvin and graduated from Pelham Memorial High School with a scholarship for two years at Phoenix Art Institute in New York City. Employment at Terrytoons, the originator of Mighty Mouse was followed by several other shorter term NYC jobs and lastly five years in the Research Department of the McCann-Erickson Advertising Agency.

On June 11, 1949 she married Robert Edwin Bailey and their first child, Christopher James, was born July 23, 1953. The family grew to a second son, Craig Sterling in 1956 and a daughter, Clarissa Anne in 1961.

Mary Anne's husband, who was employed in Television Time Sales in New York City, accepted a transfer to the Storer Television Co. in Toledo at this time and the family began a long affiliation with St. Michael's in the Hills Episcopal Church. She sang in the choir, served on the Vestry, and on a variety of committees, including the Memorial Garden which she chaired for over 19 years. They also enjoyed a membership at Sylvania Country Club where she learned to play golf. Toledo offered her other wonderful opportunities such as riding her horse through the once Stranahan, now Wildwood, property and taking art classes for five years at the Toledo Museum of Art, and a lengthy participation in the Great Books reading program.

In October 1969 Mary Anne began employment with ARA Services, the food contractor for the University of Toledo. Her responsibility covered the management of meals served to the 170 female students occupying McKinnon Hall. Three years later, when the contract expired, she accepted a sales representative position with LaCross/Penner, Inc covering a territory around the city of Toledo introducing a variety of frozen foods the company represented to institutional buyers.

In July 1976, Sylvania Schools created a new position titled Food Service Director and Mary Anne was selected for the job. Over a period of six years, she reorganized the hot lunch program to feed 7,000 students in 13 schools and initiated morning snack bars in the two high schools.

By the early 80's, she returned to outside sales with the Sexton Co. followed by Steger-Showel, Inc. before retirement in 1986

Having been granted a divorce in 1973, Mary Anne married Willis E. Brown on November 11, 1987. They enjoyed eighteen happy years together travelling and entertaining at their homes in Toledo and Harbor Springs. These retirement years also allowed her to spend meaningful time with her distant relatives. Interaction with friends and family were the highlights of her life. Her memberships included Birchwood Farms Golf and Country Club, The Toledo Club, Sylvania Country Club, and Shadow Valley Tennis Club.

Mary Anne was preceded in death by her mother and father; siblings, Dorothy M. Hilliard, Joan I, Elson, and James S, Marvin, Jr.; and husbands Robert E. Bailey and Willis E. Brown.

Surviving her are sons, Christopher (Karen) Bailey, Craig (Barbara) Bailey; daughter, Clarissa LaRue; stepdaughters, Valerie Hendricks and Dianne Brown; and stepson, Willis E. Brown (Photina). Also, grandchildren, Keith LaRue, Katelyn (Luke) Dunbar, Brian (Michelle) Bailey, Lauren (Jacob) Stachowiak, Brandon (Stephanie) Parr, Evan (Gabrielle) Parr, Brett and Amanda Hendricks and 12 great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave. on Friday, December 27, from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. A private interment service will take place at a later date in the St. Michael's in the Hills Memorial Garden. Those wishing to make a memorial contribution to Mary Anne are asked to consider the Memorial Garden at St. Michael's in the Hills, 4718 Brittany Road, Toledo OH 43615. Condolences can be shared at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com