Kathleen Brown

Mrs. Kathleen (Kathy) Speer Brown was born 6.23.1927 in Aullville, Missouri,  daughter of the late Laura Brandt Steinman and Elmer Steinman, with three younger siblings, Winford, Bonnie, who preceded her in death in 1991, and Karen. She graduated from Concordia High School in 1945 and relocated to Kansas City, where she and her close friend Gertrude found their first jobs as clerical workers at Kansas City Power and Light Company.  In 1947 she married James Richard (Jim) Speer.  They moved to Overland Park, Kansas and built a family together until his death 32 years later, with two daughters, Shari R. Speer (now of Columbus Ohio) and Shelli K. Speer Lopez (now of Kansas City, Missouri). Kathy’s drive to succeed led her to her first job with the Federal Government as Secretary Supporting the Colonel at Richards-Gebaur Airforce Base.  Over her 39-year career, she studied business at Johnson County Community College and rose to become a Contracting Officer in the Small Business Administration, with a focus on disaster loans at the Federal Emergency Management Authority, helping victims of hurricanes, fires, and floods. She retired in 1988.

In 1990, Kathy was blessed to meet and marry Max E. Brown. They spent 12 happy years together, notably traveling the world including Scandinavia, South Asia, the Arctic and South America. Their grandchild Miles Shank, born in 1994, was a source of joy to both of them.

Kathy was a member of Hillcrest Christian Church in Overland Park, and a former member of the Community Christian Church on the Plaza and St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Kansas City, Missouri. She volunteered regularly at Overland Park Regional Hospital, for the Election Board and at the Lenexa Senior Center. A fan of the KU Jayhawks and the Kansas City Chiefs, Kathy was happiest listening to classic country music.

A graveside service will be held Thursday May 12, 2022 at 3:00 pm at Johnson County Memorial Gardens, 11200 Metcalf, Ave. Overland Park, KS 66210.