Ella M. "Randy" Brown, 90, of Leland, passed away Sun, Jan 12, 2020 at Munson Hospice House surrounded by her loving family.
Most friends and acquaintances did not know Randy wasn't her given name and wondered how that was derived from Ella M, but not so surprising given her maiden name of Randall.
Randy was born Apr 8, 1929 in Chase. She was the daughter of Earl Marvin Randall and Esther Louise (Wheeler) Randall. She grew up on her parents' dairy farm in Reed City, where they grew certified seed potatoes and beans and she helped with the usual farm chores before graduating from Reed City High School.
Following her years of piano training and love of music, she attended the University of Michigan School of Music, where she met her future husband, Hugh Cameron Brown, of Dearborn, because he needed an accompanist.
After their marriage on Jun 17, 1950 at the Methodist Church in Reed City, Randy continued accompanying him for 64 years until Hugh's death in 2015.
Hugh's work as an executive at Ford Motor Company led the family to reside in Dearborn, Greenfield, Indiana, and Ann Arbor.
In Ann Arbor, Randy's professional life focused on managing and opening several branches of the Huron Valley National Bank (now Comerica) prior to her retirement in 1987. After Hugh's retirement, he and Randy began their next adventure in Leland, where they were drawn to the beauty of the area.
Among Randy's passions in life here her family and music and she was an accomplished seamstress and designer who made tailored clothing, custom upholstery, home furnishings and enjoyed working with other crafts.
She had many other interests including gardening, watching U of M sports and Detroit Tigers baseball games, trying new wines and architectural planning and design. In retirement she volunteered her time with the Leland Community United Methodist Church and Women's Civic Club.
Another interest was entertaining family and friends. It wouldn't be Memorial Day without the first potato salad of the season or Christmas without the standing rib roast and Yorkshire pudding. The annual presentation of her "jars of love," (jams and bread and butter pickles) were appreciated by all.
Randy was a force to be reckoned with who did whatever needed to be done whether it was hitting grounders to her sons to prepare them for baseball games, helping to avoid a forfeit by filling in on her daughter's softball team while wearing a business suit or borrowed sneakers, or designing and sewing a dress overnight for another daughter's event.
If a movie were to be filmed of Randy's life, it would be entitled "For Love of Piano," because playing the piano was a constant from her earliest years until shortly before her death. Music was essential throughout her life. Randy and Hugh began their journey together by performing in Gaslight Village in the Adirondacks and with the Greenland Singers while in Indiana and the U of M Choral Union in Ann Arbor, as well as lending their voices to church choirs.
Based upon Randy's research, she and Hugh traveled extensively to Europe, Great Britain, China and Hawaii; and for over 40 years they attended the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada.
She and Hugh also sang at cathedrals in Spain with the U of M Choral Union Festival Chorus and Randy cited a cathedral in Toledo, Spain, as her all time favorite performing venue.
Throughout her life she served the orchestra by playing piano for numerous high school musicals and accompanied soloists and students for voice teachers. While in Leland, Randy also sang or accompanied the Front Porch Singers, Village Voices and Leelanau Follies. Interlochen Radio was always on in the house if specific music selections were not playing.
Randy is survived by her four children, Archie (Barbara LaHood) Brown, Nancy (the late Michael) Flood, Randall (Carla) Brown, Kathryn "Kat" (James Blaszkowski) Brown; a sister, Jean (Henry) Brown; a brother, David (Betsy) Randall; a sister in law, Margaret Sears; cousins, Karen (Mary DeMassa) Wilkins, Pat Norton; several cousins of the Wagner and Wheeler families; and many other cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 pm on Fri, Jan 17, at the Martinson Funeral Home, of Suttons Bay. A funeral service will be held at 11 am on Sat, Jan 18, at the Leland Community United Methodist Church, 106 N. Fourth St, Leland, MI 49654. The family will greet friends at 10 am. The Rev. Daniel Hofmann will officiate.
