Margaret Ann Brown

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, Margaret Ann Brown left this earth peacefully. She was surrounded by her devoted daughters in loving prayer the day she passed, holding hands tightly, and whispering the words “I love you” with every bit of her last strength.

Margaret was born on Oct 11, 1932 to Howard and Anna Hoxter. She was an only child, cherishing any opportunity to play with cousins or other children. She was a social butterfly from the beginning, and this would continue throughout her life.

Margaret grew up in Baltimore city, and attended St. Joseph’s Monastery school from 1-8, and then attended St. Martins High School in West Baltimore. Her mother Anna worked in the monastery as a laundress, ironing the habits for 18 nuns and numerous priests, while Margaret spent many hours under their guidance. Her dad was a Fuller Brush salesman and caddie at Baltimore golf courses. She exceled in school and was Salutatorian of her 1951 class receiving outstanding leadership, scholarship and citizenship awards. She was always busy, working as a candy striper and starring in school plays. After high school, she met her life-long love, Kenneth Brown who attended St. Joseph’s School, and would raise 5 children with the help of her mother, “Nanny,” who was also fondly remembered by anyone who knew Margaret’s family.

Margaret was active throughout her life, spanning a career with the Social Security Administration for 27 years. She was an advocate for the Native American Indians for many years, often visiting reservations out west and tutoring children there well into her 60s. Her greatest pleasure was always helping others, and the reward she felt from that. She volunteered time in the GI department at St. Agnes hospital, Shepperd’s Staff, Little Sisters of the Poor, Beans and Bread, and at Holy Family rectory cooking and cleaning for the priests. In down time, she was an avid crossword and scrabble player and reader, always up on the latest Webster word and world news. In her later years, when life slowed down, her favorite pass-time was dining out, and chatting with the waitresses. She was a friend to everyone. She loved to travel, to experience new adventures, and was constantly reinventing herself.

Margaret is predeceased by her husband Ken and son Michael Brown, and is survived by Mary Roberts and husband Chris, Kathy Shearin and husband Tom, Ann Nettles and husband Ted, Stephen Brown, Daughter-in-law Kathy Brown, her 5 grandchildren Eric (and wife Ami Amico), Justin, and Adam Brown, and Brock and Pierce Shearin, and her great grandchildren Eli and Hunter Brown.

Margaret will always be remembered for her devout faith, love of family and friends, quick wit, corny jokes, endless energy and passion, ability to recall birthdays and anniversaries, and her tireless efforts to make the world a better place. She found a reason to celebrate everything in life, and now she is celebrating in the heavens hereafter. As she was often heard saying at the end of every party “See ya later, HON.”

A private family service has been arranged at Burrier-Queen Funeral Home. Flowers will be accepted on April 30. Donations in her honor can be sent to her dedicated charities -- Red Cloud Indian School, Historic Mission Building, 100 Madison Dr, Pine Ridge, SD 57770 or Seeing Eye, 1 Seeing Eye Way, Morriston NJ 07960.