Rhododendron resident Evelyn McKee Brown died at her home on September 10, 2013. She was a loving, intelligent, and caring wife, mother, friend and community member. She was 84 years old.
Evelyn was born to Erwin Edward and Helen McKee in Chiloquin, Oregon on December 2, 1928. She graduated from Reedsport High School as the class valedictorian and attended the University of Oregon. Evelyn first met her husband Murray Brown in 1947 while working at Crater Lake Lodge during a summer break from college. After graduating, they met again, and later married in 1953. They loved each other dearly, had children, lived in many cities throughout the United States and also lived in Japan, the Panama Canal Zone, and Germany.
Her first job after receiving her Bachelor’s Degree was as a teacher. When her husband was sent to Korea she started a career in engineering for Convair, then programming and data processing for Boeing, and then with her family, she traveled, raised her children and volunteered at elementary schools and church. As her children grew older she reentered the workforce in the engineering department for the Transportation Department at the City of Portland.
She lived in the Eastmoreland neighborhood in Portland, Oregon for 25 years before moving full time to Mt. Hood over 23 years ago. Evelyn was passionate and committed to contributing to her community, continuous learning, genealogy, traveling, gardening, spending time with her family, visiting the Oregon coast and sharing all that she knew about her family history and her beloved state of Oregon.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Murray Brown and her daughters, Pamela Brown and Sandra Hood. She is survived by her daughters Cheri Brown and Linda Peterson, her grandchildren, Bill Hood, Andy Hood, Jesica Childs, Phineas Crisp, Walker Peterson, and Robert Peterson and five great-grandchildren.
Evelyn joined her husband Murray Brown at Willamette National Cemetery on Monday, September 16th. A memorial service will be held at Hoodland Lutheran Church on Wednesday, September 18th at 2:00pm.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be sent to the Hoodland Senior Center (65000 E. Highway 26, PO Box 508, Welches, OR 97067) and/or Neighborhood Missions (C/O Hoodland Lutheran Church, PO Box 594, Brightwood, OR 97011).