St. Ann's Catholic School mourns loss of teacher

St. Ann's Catholic School in Carthage will have an early release Thursday, September 2, for those wishing to attend the visitation and funeral of Title I teacher DeGee Brown, which are scheduled for 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Mason-Woodard Mortuary in Joplin.

Mrs. Brown died Friday morning, according to a posting on the school's Facebook page.

With great sadness I have to tell you that our sweet Mrs. Brown passed away this morning. As some may know, she had not been feeling well the last few months. She had been visiting with her doctors to see what was making her not feel well. 

Yesterday, her husband contacted me to let me know that she was having a rough morning, but was fighting him to come to school. He wanted her to stay home.

Our Lord, knowing her pain and suffering, decided to bring her home to Him and to stop her pain. What a great God He is, because she now is with Him rejoicing in His glory. 

Mrs. Brown leaves behind a wonderful loving husband of 36 years, Mark, her son Aaron, and her twin daughters Alyssa and Lauren. Please keep them in your prayers along with her father and her three brothers.

This morning, we contacted Carthage R9 Public School who graciously sent us three wonderful counselors to help us in telling our teachers and the students of Mrs. Brown’s passing. 

Father Paco, Father Marino, and Deacon Jim met with our students 1st grade through 6th grade to have a prayer service. We spent about two hours at church praying, reminiscing, laughing, and crying as we told stories and remembered Mrs. Brown and how she touched all of our lives.

 Mrs. Brown began her teaching career at St. Ann's and returned five years ago after retiring from the Carthage R-9 School District where she worked for three years. She worked in the Joplin R-8 School District for 13 years, starting as a reading recovery teacher at Irving, Kelsey Norman and Cecil Floyd elementary schools. She later served as the district's literacy coordinator and was an instructional coach.