Daphne Lorene Brown

Daphne Lorene Brown, age 92, resident of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma was born on March 15, 1928 in Ripley County, Fairdealing, Missouri and was the daughter of James J. and Lola Belle (Hayes) Samons.  She passed away on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at the BeeHive Homes of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Daphne is survived by her daughter, Debra Capps and her husband, Jimmy of Bixby, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Cherie Brown and partner Steve Thompson, Shane Brown, Daphne Hillhouse and husband Jeff, and Charles Capps and wife Kayla; nine great-grandchildren Miranda Brown, Shane Austin Brown, Katelyn Villa and her husband Jenison, Hunter Brown, Jacob Hillhouse, Sarah Capps, Julie Capps, Lucinda Capps and Chloe Hillhouse; four great-great grandchildren, Randon Pugh, Ryder Pugh, Remington Brown and Gracelynn Boyd; two brothers, Roy Lee Samons and wife Linda and Niles (Pete) Samons and wife Roberta of Chico, California; her sister, Verneal Walker of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; surviving Sister -in-laws Jewel Samons of Branson, Missouri, Sandy Samons of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Machiko Samons of Carlsbad, California;  and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Preceded in death by her husband, Johnie Sherman Brown in 1982 after 32 years of marriage. Also, by sons:  John Gregory Brown (1994) and baby Lawrence Lee Brown (1951); Brothers:  Bural & wife Marie Samons: Boyden (Danny) Samons; Albert & wife LouVerne Samons; Doyle Samons; twins Chester & Lester Samons, Brother-in-law: Wilbur Walker.  Sister:  Mural & husband RA Clark   

Daphne was born at home during a snowstorm while her father was away to get the doctor. As told by her father & her brother Danny, two old midwives were left in charge of him while attending to his mother. Daphne was born a fighter at approximately 2.5 pounds, "she fit in the length of my hand, so tiny", her father shared. Her brother called her Doodlebug then and the remainder of his life because of how little she was when he first saw her.  The old stories about fitting in a shoe box, boot box, bottom drawer of the chest and graduating up was her story.  Different ones of her older siblings carried her around in a basket until she could walk which was very late. Living with a large family meant you helped with the younger children. Her task was keeping up with the twin boys, keeping them clean for school and entertained after.  Oh, The Stories of their Antics with Daphne! Surprising she survived them. "Why she cleaned our ears with the roughest washrag and stuck it in one ear till it came out the other" and she didn't stop there, " she pulled it back and forth a few times"! says the twins. The family picked cotton all in the Missouri bottoms, when she was finally able to pick, her father made her a cotton bag just her size.  She grew and attended small one and two room schools and graduating from Sikeston High School as the Drum Majorette and voted as having the "best looking legs". She traveled by train to Ann Arbor, MI to live with her Aunt during the summers working in retail selling hosiery and longerie'. Sometime after graduation, she traveled by train to San Francisco, California to work with her brother Danny in a market off Fisherman's Wharf.   Johnie returned from service with the Army in the Asiatic Pacific Theater and went to work at this same Market (which his sister Mary was part owner) They met and married on January 10, 1949 with much ado. She did not have a birth certificate and looked way too young to marry in Las Vegas, Nevada; they ended up in Kingmon, Arizona in front of a Justice of the Peace (who required both Danny and Mary to be witness). After a honeymoon in Mexico, they traveled to both Missouri and Oklahoma to visit both sets of parents and get their blessings on the marriage. Returned to California where all three children were born.  Several trips back and forth across route 66 ensued until they moved back to Missouri then Oklahoma a couple of times.

After Johnie's death, Daphne took up permanent residence in Broken Arrow and continued working as Secretary in Housekeeping at Saint Francis Hospital for JoeDavid Mellott. She continued to adore and care for her two oldest Grandchildren Cherie and Shane until they graduated high school during which her two youngest Grandchildren were born Daphne and Charles. She was THE BEST "GRANNIE" to each of them, kept them busy which kept her busy. After retirement her first Great Grandchildren came along, and she helped during the summers by keeping them in swim lessons etc.

She was a member of the Broken Arrow Oklahoma Eastern Star, taught Rainbow Girls, worked most Rooster Day parades serving in the kitchen and dining room, attended other events and weekly meetings. She says she couldn't cook however I hear she could "take charge" in the kitchen, no job was mundane for her.

She was a Christian and a Baptist. She studied the Bible completely through twice making massive notes especially about Faith in the Lord; she lived on Faith; that was what has kept and carried her through the 92 years she lived. She has now entered her heavenly home she faithfully looked toward. She always was whistling or singing. She had many favorites: It is Well with My soul; Throw out the lifeline; Faith of my fathers; Ready to go Ready to stay Ready to do God's will; and she loved Marching band music, marching through her house high stepping to the music for exercise; going to all the Kids band contests and concerts as she could. 

She attended Faith Baptist Church in Broken Arrow with Pastor Randy Shaddox, and served there in many ways, one of which was interviewing families that needed help during Christmas and inviting them to the Christmas Room. She could be found walking all over Broken Arrow posting flyers and talking with Businesses as well as the families in need.    

She will be missed by a great many family and even more friends especially her caregivers over the last 4 years. She left a loving, laughing, and lasting impression on each one, from Saint Francis to Montereau, to Woodland Terrace, Right at Home, Angels Care Home Health, Trusting Hands, Villages of Southern Hills and especially Physicians Choice Hospice and beyond words, The BeeHive Homes in Broken Arrow. Many Thanks and Blessings to all who helped along her journey. Know that she carried in her Heart a special place for each caregiver and wished many blessings upon each of you!

Graveside services celebrating Daphne’s life will be at 2:00 PM on Friday, January 29, 2021 at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma with Chaplain Randy Shaddox officiating. She will be laid to rest next to Johnie in the Veteran's Field of Honor.

The family of Daphne Lorene Brown entrusted her care and services to Broken Arrow Funeral & Cremation Service, 231 E. Commercial St., Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012, 918-251-5331, www.brokenarrowfuneralandcremation.com.

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