Mary Ruth (Gaines) Brown

December 8, 1920 – April 15, 2018

Age: 97

Mary Ruth (Gaines) Brown, 97, passed from this life April 15, 2018. She was born December 8, 1920, in Waurika, Oklahoma, to Laster and Abbie (McClellan) Gaines. She and George A. Brown were married in August of 1944 at Altus Air Force Base. She and her husband, George, were owners of the Brown Drug Store from 1951 to 1984. Mary Ruth later retired from the Jefferson County Election Board at the age of 85. She served her community as a member of the Waurika Chamber of Commerce for fifty-seven years. In 1973, she was elected as President of the Waurika Chamber of Commerce and was the first woman elected to that post in the state of Oklahoma.

She was preceded in death by her parents Laster and Abbie Gaines; her husband George A. Brown, on June 9, 1977; her brother Toby Gaines; and one granddaughter Sheila Brown.

Survivors include: her sons – Russell Allen Brown and his wife Linda of Oklahoma City, OK, and Carl David “Chuck” Brown and his wife Terri, of Waurika, OK; her daughter – Toby Ann and her husband Phillip Walker of Oklahoma City, OK; four grandchildren – Coleman Walker, Brook Walker, Jennifer Richards, and Ashley Van Rite; and ten great-grandchildren – Aiden, Anna, Olivia, Blake, Max, Addison, Brooklyn, Cameron, Addie, and Jay.

A memorial service was held at 1:00 PM, Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church in Waurika with Adam Brinson and Russ Brown officiating. Pallbearers were Dick Gaines, Mike Gaines, Pat Gaines, Jerry Smith, Brad Scott, and Joe Keeter. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 438 East D, Waurika, OK 73573.