Gloria “Jean” Brown

Gloria “Jean” Brown, 68, Allen, Texas, formerly of Woodstock, died Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012.

She was born May 1, 1944, in Bloomington to John and Arlene Naas. She married Bill Brown on May 27, 1960.

She and her husband raised their family in Woodstock and moved to Allen in 1999 to be closer to their grandchildren.

She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who loved to read, was a stranger to no one and was her family’s greatest cheerleader. Her strength of character, courage and heart was shown throughout her eight-year battle with scleroderma.

Her body was donated to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center to be used in research for the cure of scleroderma.

Survivors include two sisters, Rosina “Rita” Allen and Patricia (Frank) Pillow; three brothers, Ron (Peggy) Nass, John (Judy) Naas and James (Sherry) Naas; her husband; two daughters, Stacy Brown and Michele  (Jon) Franke; a son, Jeffrey Brown; and five grandchildren, Elizabeth McDaniel, Savanah Brown, Mesa Brown, Will Franke and Morgan Franke.

A celebration of her life was held Dec. 16 at the First Presbyterian Church, Allen.

Memorials can be made to the Scleroderma Foundation, 300 Rosewood Drive, Suite 105, Danvers, MA 01923.