Rooney Family Tree

Inez Julia (Silver) Brown died on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at the Medical Center of Carolina Village after a short illness. She was 73. The grace with which she faced death matched the grace of her entire life.

She was born in Sauk Centre, Minnesota on April 12, 1939. Her family moved to Wadena, Minnesota when she was a child and she lived there until graduating from Wadena High School in 1957. She later lived in Wisconsin, California, Mexico City, Roswell (Atlanta) Georgia, and in 1988 moved to Hendersonville where she lived until her death.

Her life was spent reaching out to others. An excellent cook, she tried to make sure that everyone was fed properly. That belief continued throughout her years in Hendersonville with a "career" of 23 years delivering Meals on Wheels for the Council on Aging. More than 13, 000 times, she knocked on a door, gave someone a nutritious meal and a hug, and topped it off with on e of her great smiles.

Other agencies felt her warmth: among them Mainstay, FISH, the Free Clinic, Department of Social Services and WCCA. Promotional material for WCCA often showed Headstart kids wearing colorful winter caps that she crocheted by the hundreds while watching JEOPARDY.

Music was an important part of her life, with band and choral work in high school and participation in church choirs wherever she lived. She loved Handel's Messiah, singing in "sing-a-longs" dozens of times. A few hours before her death, a good friend sat at her bedside and sang the favorite hymn that will be sung at her service.

Inez was preceded in death by her parents Clyde and Inez Silver, a sister Helen Halliwell, and a brother John Silver who was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action in Vietnam.

She is survived by her husband, Robert R. Brown; her sisters, Fran (Bill) Gustine and Barbara Robinson; her children, Michael (Lisa) Ehlen, Kristine Ehlen, and Sara Ehlen. She is also survived by stepchildren William (Cindy) Brown, Nancy (Ronald) Roberts, and James (Gretchen Winter) Brown. There are five grandchildren, Andrea, Holly, Otto, Jacqueline, and Jill and one great-granddaughter.

Inez was a member of First United Methodist Church of Hendersonville. She has sung in the choir, and served several years as coordinator of the prayer chain.

The family wishes to thank long-time friend Dr. Ron Moffitt for his care and understanding, the magnificent staff at the Carolina Village Medical Center, and the members of the Four Seasons Hospice team who always seemed to know just when to "be there".

A memorial service will be held at 2:00PM on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at the Village Hall of Carolina Village, with Reverend Dan Martin and Reverend Christy Sharp officiating. A private inurnment will be held prior to the service.