Obituary for Ruby “Raelene” Brown

Ruby (Raelene) Brown

April 30, 1931 — May 1, 2024

Ruby (Raelene) Brown went to be with Jesus on May 1, 2024. She was 93 years old. Raelene was born April 30, 1931, to James Raymond Nichols and Emma Eleanor (Voegeli) Nichols.

Raelene graduated from Covington High School in 1949, where she played basketball, softball and was a cheerleader all through high school. Her senior year she was invited to join the American Red Heads Professional Basketball team. After working at several restaurants in Stillwater and Enid, she married her high school sweetheart, Neil Brown, on March 31,1952. They were married over 56 years before Neil’s death. Raelene moving to Ponca City in 1957, she and Neil opened the first Coin-O-Matic laundry. Then in 1968, they opened Neil’s Fashions in Ponca City and Ark City, Kansas. Raelene managed both stores until her retirement in 1998. She was a member of the sorority Epilon Sigma Alpha and was voted “Girl of the Year” in 1968. She then went on to be President for the sorority. Her hobbies included bowling, and especially fishing, watching sports OSU and Thunder, plus attending games of her grandchildren. They all called her “mema”. Raelene had many friends and family, and she was always there if you needed her. She will be greatly missed by all.

Survived by a daughter, Sherry Loveland, husband John of Dallas, Texas and son Gary Neil Brown, wife Laurie of St Joseph, Missouri. Also survived by six grandchildren, Jennifer Holasek, husband Brandon of Edmond, Adam Butterfield of Coppell, Texas, Jessica Brown, of Weatherford, Texas, Ross Butterfield of McKinney, Texas, Matt Brown of St Joseph, Missouri and Chelsea Fisher, husband Dana of Ponca City, Oklahoma and one sister, Maryann Dykes of Enid, Oklahoma. She had 10 great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren that she loved to cook for.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and her loving husband, Neil, three sisters and one brother.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hospice or Alzheimer’s Association. Visitation will be at Grace Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, the 8th from 3p.m. to 7 p.m. with the family in attendance from 5pm -7pm. The funeral will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 9th, 2024, at Grace Memorial Chapel with Pastor Mark Meador officiating. Interment will follow at Covington Cemetery, Covington Oklahoma.

Those wishing to sign the online guest book can do so by going to www.gracememorialchapel.net.