Submitted by Family
It is with a heavy heart, a profound sense of loss, and an immeasurable sadness that we announce the passing of Melinda Lee Brown who was also known in her beloved community as Mama Mel. Mel passed away on Sept. 22, 2024, after a 6 month-long and stoic battle against cancer. Mel was 74 years young and will always be loved and remembered by those who were touched by her kindness.
Mel began her life in a small Texas town as the youngest of two daughters in a modest working family. Despite her lack of a solid foundation and support for reasons unknown, she managed to fall in love with a handsome young man and became a dedicated mother of two beautiful daughters, who she would ensure had the happy childhood she was deprived of. She found comfort and happiness briefly with her first husband, Bobby Burns, who was tragically taken from her in a sudden and unforeseeable lake accident.
In her efforts to provide for her small family, she worked in retail sales, as a restaurant server, and any job she could in order to give that security to her family. Eventually, she found the job she was destined to have as a bartender that could provide a caring ear for anyone who was having troubles or give the love someone needed and be the spark to brighten anyone’s day. She was proud to have been voted the best female bartender six years in a row and genuinely loved her patrons who became her very close circle of friends. The one thing she missed most when she retired was getting together with her bar crowds and laughing and spending time with them. She often spoke about how much she adored her group of generous friends. Those friendships she carried inside her every day of her life.
Mel enjoyed gardening, painting, rock collecting, fishing and making jewelry among other interests that kept her happy and busy. She also loved to read and learn about her Osage Nation ancestry, but mostly she just loved to make those around her happy.
Mel was not the kind of person that didn’t care about anything, she cared and worried about everything and everyone. When she saw a need, she made every effort to alleviate that need. When she discovered there were children who had a great need at “The Childrens Center Inc.” of Galveston she jumped into her typical Mama Mel self, organizing benefits to provide these children with a happier Christmas through the nonprofit Sleeptight Fund for Mel’s kids that provided pajamas, cotton sheets, pillows and blankets, etc., and also gave these children a wish list.
After raising the money from her benefits, she would shop and spend every penny donated and have wrapping parties to make it all happen and deliver these gifts as a Secret Santa to each child’s location. To our knowledge, in the first four years she raised $18,000 and helped 151 children to have a happier Christmas on the island.
She was a petite person but to us, she was a giant, who had a spirit inside her that could move mountains. Perhaps her Osage Nation heritage utilized the strength from Wa kon ta to perform these heroic acts of kindness and selflessness.
Mel is survived by her loving husband of over 30 years, Gary Brown and her two incredible daughters, Tanya Weldon and Shannon Burns. She is also survived by her four wonderful grandchildren, Robert, Julianna, Johnathan and Andie and their significant others. She also reluctantly leaves behind her newest loves of her life, her three great-grandchildren whom she thought about every day and who gave her the most joy in her final days. Mel is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and extended family members, all of whom she deeply loved. Their support was such a huge factor in her fight to continue her love for the whole extended family and friends in every way she could.
A memorial service was held at Carnes Brothers Funeral Home on Oct. 5, 2024.