Lona Loudean Brown, age 88, passed away on Sunday, December 25, 2022, at Lake Regional Health System in Osage Beach.  She was born in Miller County on October 9, 1934, daughter of the late Otto and Bertha (Cretia) Ash.  On July 2, 1955, in Eldon, Lona was united in marriage to Gordon Lee Brown, who preceded her in death on July 3, 1988.

Being raised in the hollers of Brumley, she was brought up with pioneering skills.  When springtime came, she would go out and grub for square weed, naridock, poke, and other greens as she would call them.  She would gather up her own bait, then catch and clean her own fish.  She would make a garden and cold pack her vegetables in an old cast iron pot over an open wood fire, she could pick wild grapes and elderberries and make jelly.  Feeding hay or milking a cow she felt was just part of the day's chore.  To have supper on the table for her husband, on a night when he came home from work or to feed a big hay-crew, she considered it her duty.  Loudean often worked the motels at the lake cleaning and doing laundry to help make ends meet.  She was a lady that was not afraid to get her hands dirty.

She is survived by one son, Roger Brown; two daughters, Ragenia (Brian) Duncan and Roxan (Kevin) Cotten; grandchildren, Danny Abbott, Chad Abbott, Nicole Hanson, Rusty Brown, John David Lewis, Bill Lewis, and Brian Duncan; 14 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, Sharon Brown; five brothers, Sam, Dwight, Bob, Herbert, and Leman Ash; and two sisters, Marie Morehouse and Offie DeClue.

Visitation will be held from 11 to 12 (noon), with services immediately following at 12 (noon), on Thursday, December 29, at Fancher-Rekus Funeral Home in Iberia with Brian Duncan officiating.  Interment will be held in Robinett Cemetery near Brumley.

Memorial contributions are suggested to MOCHA.