Obituary of Erma Jean Brown
Erma Jean Brown, 89, formerly of Mendham, NJ, passed away peacefully at home in Boonton Township, NJ on Thursday, September 21, 2023.
Erma was born in Ada, Oklahoma in May of 1934 to Calvin and Erma Jean (nee Flowers) Maples. She graduated from Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City and earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK.
Erma met the love of her life, Elmo, in high school and they were together the rest of her life. She and Elmo moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and then Morris County, NJ, before settling in Mendham 59 years ago. During that time, they also lived for 12 years in and around London, England.
Erma taught elementary school for four years in Oklahoma and Louisiana before starting a family and making their home a warm, loving place. She committed herself fully to many interests, including Braille transcribing, brass rubbing, hosting and playing bridge, and playing board games with her grandchildren. She was a kind woman, known for her warm smile, generous heart, and playful character.
Erma is survived by her loving husband, Elmo C. Brown; her children, Keith Brown and partner Lei Masson; Sharon Palmer and spouse Scott Palmer; and daughter-in-law Christine Brown; her grandchildren, Abigail Stokes and spouse Andrew R. McHugh; Marni Benefield and spouse Andrew Benefield; Hannah Stokes and spouse Kahlil Traylor; and Cooper Brown; and her great-grandchildren, Finn McHugh and Rayla Benefield. She also left behind her caring and irreplaceable aide, Dorathy Adindu, to whom the family is so grateful. Erma was predeceased by her parents; her brother, James Maples; and her son, Gary Brown.
If you would like to make a donation in Erma's memory, The Seeing Eye in Morristown, NJ would surely benefit. Services were private and provided by Codey & Mackey Funeral Home of Boonton. To share a condolence or memory with the family, please visit CodeyMackeyFH.com.
