Amanda Johnson Brown
1911-2010
Amanda Johnson Brown passed away on Thursday, February 25th, 2010 in the South Valley Care Center, West Jordan, Utah of natural causes.
She was the youngest child of Francis Lee Johnson and Sarah Josephine Williams and was born on September 15, 1911 in Chuichupa, a remote little Mormon Colony high in the Sierra Madre Mountains in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico. After losing her father at the age of two, her family moved to Arizona where her mother could get work.
Amanda attended school in Binghampton, Arizona until her senior year when she moved to Colonia Juarez to attend the Juarez Stake Academy. She married Laurel Jasper Brown in the Mesa, Arizona temple on February 10, 1933. They had three children. Larry Dean Brown (deceased), Laurel Brown Dimond (deceased) and M. Kay Brown (Patricia). They made their home in Arizona, and Colonia Juarez until eventually moving to Utah where they had a mink ranch and raised quarter horses. After the death of her husband in March 1964 she enrolled in Brigham Young University to study Theatre History and Costume Design and graduated in June 1970 cum laude with a Masters Degree. She spent the next nine years teaching and designing at the University of Utah Pioneer Memorial Theatre. Even after retiring she was invited to design and construct many productions for the U.
Amanda was asked by the LDS Church to costume Promise Valley in the spring of 1968. In the summer of 1978 she was asked to costume the production of “Oh Elizabeth” in Nauvoo, Illinois. In 1980 she was invited to costume the LDS Church’s production of ZION.
Amanda was a faithful and active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day-Saints holding many positions. She loved music and teaching and was Music & choir director for many years. She was Relief Society Teacher, Gospel Doctrine Teacher and many more. Amanda worked in the Jordan River Temple from 1982 until 1986. She served as a member of the M.I.A. General Board. Amanda also served a mission at the Peruvian Temple. Amanda also served a mission at the Peruvian Temple.
She worked for the Democratic Party for Utah, worked as Salt Lake County License Director, Committee Secretary and Docket Clerk in the House of Representatives.
Amanda is survived by her son Melvin Kay Brown and wife Patricia, 34 grandchildren, and one great-grand daughter. Preceded in death by her parents, brothers; Lynn, Frederick, Grant, and sisters; Jennie and Hazel.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m, Thursday, March 4th at the West Jordan Central Stake Center at 8173 S. 3200 W. West Jordan. Family and friends may visit on Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Stake Center and from 9:30 to 10:30 on Thursday morning. Internment will be in the West Jordan City Cemetery.