Mary Irene Brown

Having finished her earthly mission, Mary Irene Crego Brown, departed this life on December 11, 2024. She is survived by her beloved husband, Gary Earl Brown; her six children, Rebekah (William) Peterson, MaraLynn (Thom “Tad”) Urie, Richard (Kathy) Brown, Tricia (Greg) Peterson, Elizabeth (Cody) Edam, and Michelle (Richard) Pospisil; her siblings, Pat (John) Finazzo, Terri Crego, and Rick (Toni) Crego; 30 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She was met on the other side by her parents, Richard and Patricia Crego and her grandson, Aaron, as well as many other family members.

Born on November 3, 1948 into an Air Force family, Mary lived in many places as a child including Germany and Panama, Colorado and Texas. She loved water skiing, singing, and reading. Blessed with a beautiful voice, she used her talents to enrich the lives of others. While attending college at Texas Women’s University, she was taught by missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and baptized in March 1967. 

A short time later, she met a young airman at church, and they fell in love. Gary and Mary were married September 6, 1968 and her connection with the Air Force continued. During his career, they lived in Florida, Arizona, Alabama, Taiwan, Philippines, Utah, Colorado, Alaska and New Jersey. After retirement, they lived in Utah before making their final home in Arizona. Everywhere they lived, Mary quickly made the house into a home, providing stability for their growing family and filling it with love. 

Mary and Gary enjoyed traveling and teaching. Among many other adventures, they spent two years teaching English at South China University of Technology in Guangzhou, China. Later she fulfilled a lifelong dream by traveling to Israel where she walked the paths that Christ walked. 

Mary’s love for her Savior and Heavenly Father in her life was her guiding force. Over the years, she never turned away anyone in need, whether they be cadets barely younger than herself, countless missionaries, other women in need of a helping hand, or friends of her children who needed a refuge. She exemplified the scripture, “In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 3307 S Greenfield Rd, Gilbert, AZ on Saturday, December 21, 2024. Visitation will be from 10:45-11:15 and funeral services will follow at 11:30. Interment will be at San Tan Memorial Gardens at Schnepf Farms.