Jo Anne (Gorrell) Brown May 9, 1928 ~ April 10, 2022 (age 93)

Obituary

Graveside services for Jo Anne Brown, 93, of Portales, will be held at 10:00 AM, Mon., April 18, 2022 in the Portales Cemetery.

Jo Anne Brown was born May 9, 1928 in Portales to the home of the late Morris and Nellie (Cox) Gorrell.  She spent most of her life in Portales.  Jo Anne graduated from Portales High School in 1946, and attended ENMU and New Mexico State University.  For many years she was a member of the First Baptist Church.

She was married to C. L. Brown on Dec. 30, 1951 in Portales.  The moved to Cloudcroft, NM in 1960.  While living there she was employed by the Cloudcroft Schools and the Alamogordo Schools.  During those years she was active in numerous activities and fund raisers for the schools and for the community.  She and C. L. moved back to Portales in 1988 to make their home in their retirement years.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jefferey and Diane Brown of Coldspring, TX; a God send son, Dean Vaughn and his wife, Vickie of Miniqua, WI; two grandchildren, Bryan Brown and Noleah Cole; a great-granddaughter, Ella Cole; a brother, Shannon Gorrell of Portales; several nieces and nephews, including Sabra Gorrell of Portales; a sister-in-law, Carolyn Gorrell of Portales; and a very close personal friend, Terry Warnica of Portales; along with C. L.’s beloved family.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Morris and Nellie Gorrell, a brother, Dexter Gorrell, a sister, Edythe Nix; her daughter, Candace Gruger and by her beloved husband, C. L. Brown who died April 23, 2004.