Carolyn Eloise Brown

Carolyn Eloise Brown passed away November 11, 2018 at the age of 75.

Carolyn was born June 20, 1943 in Blytheville, Arkansas to the late William Alton and Ruby Dean

(Shields) Willis. Although Carolyn was a child in a military family, she managed to spend most of her childhood in Levelland, Texas. As the oldest of four children, Carolyn had a special relationship with each of her siblings and loved them all dearly.  Because her dad was an umpire, many nights of her childhood were spent at the ballpark. Even though she was an avid reader and always had her nose in a book, Carolyn was very social and outgoing, having lots of friends. After graduating from Levelland High School in 1961, she attended Odessa College for a short time as a music major on scholarship.

Carolyn met her future husband, Julian Burch on August 16, 1961 at Sherwood Baptist Church and they were married on April 28, 1963 in Odessa TX. Julian and Carolyn were married for 20 years and had their daughter Julie Ann in March 1973. Although they divorced, the two have remained good friends. Carolyn married the late Max Brown on August 21, 1991 and the two were married until Max’s death in 1996. Carolyn was very devoted to her daughter Julie, and then later to her grandchildren.  She lived the majority of her life in Odessa before moving to Bryan in July of 2006 to be near her family. She was a proud employee of the Association of Former Students at Texas A&M from 2006 until her retirement in October 2017.

Carolyn was a very positive person, always remaining hopeful and gracious until the end. She survived cancer twice with a radiant smile on her face, often serving as an encouraging presence to others. Continually charismatic, Carolyn enjoyed watching Aggie football and avidly streamed the live games of the Odessa Permian Panthers “Mojo” each week on Facebook. Reading also remained an important passion in her life.

Carolyn leaves behind her daughter and son-in-law Julie Ann and Charles Shaddox, her son Willis Edward Cumbie and his children Drew Cumbie, Mitch Cumbie, and Allie Thurman, her sister Judy Jordan, her sister Sherry Willis, her brother William “Bill” Alton Willis II and his wife Denise, her grandsons Jaxson Charles and Jake Alton Shaddox, Nieces Rebecca Creighton (Glenn), Kris Weixelbaum (Chris), Nephew Joshua Willis (Gabriella), and lastly her friends who were like family: Tomi McDaniel, Melinda Hodges, Edye Hearon, Dara Cavness, and Lisa Irby.

In celebrating Carolyn’s life, her family has planned a time of visitation on Thursday, November 15 from 5 to 7 PM at Hillier Funeral Home of Bryan. Her life celebration service will be Friday, November 16, 2018 at 1 PM, also at Hillier Funeral Home of Bryan. Please share any memories or tributes to Carolyn at www.hillierfuneralhome.com

In lue of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the A&M Association of Former Students.