Anne Brown

Anne Havron Johnson Brown, age 96, died Thursday, July 12, 2018 in her La Vida Llena home among loving family members. She is survived by her devoted son and daughter-in-law, Arnold Havron Brown and Patricia McCraw-Brown; and boundless loyal friends. Anne was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Arnold W. Brown; her sister, Jacqueline Pockman; and her parents, James and Leta Bess Johnson.

Anne was born in 1921 in Decatur, AL: where she lived until marrying Arnold Brown in 1944, becoming the wife of a career Air Force officer which took them to numerous European and U.S. military bases over the next 20 years. Her son, Arnold was born in Germany in 1949. In 1960, Anne and her family moved to Albuquerque for Arnold to become an instructor in the University of New Mexico Air Force ROTC. In 1968 Anne began her own 25 year UNM career, first with the UNM Fine Arts Museum and then the Dept. of Civil Engineering. In 1970 she became the assistant to John Durrie who held the unique position of University Secretary responsible for all Board of Regents administration, Faculty Senate governance and university-wide ceremonial events centered in the Office of the President. In 1972, Anne succeeded Mr. Durrie as University Secretary, serving in that position until her retirement in 1993 under seven UNM presidents. She was most proud of her leadership during the University's Centennial Year.

During her professional career at UNM she completed her B.A. in University Studies and earned an M.A. in Public Administration. Her service was honored with the UNM Regents Recognition Medal and the UNM Alumni Association Lobo Award for her commitment to alumni programs. Two UNM endowed scholarships bear the Brown family's names: the Arnold W. Brown fine arts scholarship and the Anne J. Brown public administration scholarship.

Anne will long be remembered as a woman of tremendous grace, courage, fairness, dedication and loyalty. She will always be regarded by hundreds of UNM faculty, staff, and students as one of the finest and most admired human beings ever to serve the university.

The family expresses their deep appreciation to Anne's many dear friends and kind care givers at La Vida Llena and Comfort Keepers for making her last years comforting and gratifying. A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, 10:00 a.m. on the main campus of La Vida Llena, 10501 Lagrima De Oro Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111.

A private interment will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery at a later date. Memorial gifts may be made in Anne's memory to your favorite charity.