Roselyn Hobbs Brown, woman of grace

Roselyn Hobbs Brown of Lewes, formerly of Livermore, Ky., died Sunday, April 21, 2019, in Lewes.

She was born Oct. 18, 1922, in Kirbyton, Ky., daughter of Carl and Zella McGee Hobbs. She grew up on a bucolic family farm along with six siblings.

Roselyn married Samuel D. Brown in 1940 and spent the WWII years in the Chicago, Ill. area where Sam worked in the manufacture of war equipment. After the war, Sam was deployed to Japan in the U.S. Army occupation force.

After he completed his military service, the couple moved to Livermore, where Sam joined in his father's hardware business. Sam and Roselyn, as equal partners, purchased the business in 1951 and expanded it to become Livermore Furniture and Hardware. They also expanded their family, blessed with two sons, David Allen (1947) and Mark Thomas (1950).

Mrs. Brown was very active in local community activities and the Livermore First Baptist Church where she served as secretary, teacher and in support of youth services. She was a 50-year member of the Livermore Women's Club, serving as president and chair of numerous planning committees. Mrs. Brown was highly respected in her community as a woman of substance, strength and grace. She had the ability to help people feel good about themselves.

The couple turned over the reins of their business to their older son David in 1984. Unexpectedly, David died in an accident in 1988. Roselyn and Sam then moved to Lewes in 1998, to have time near their younger son, Mark. In Lewes, the couple attended Bethel United Methodist Church. Sam died in 2003.

Surviving are one son, Mark Brown of Rehoboth Beach; three grandchildren, Chris Brown of Owensboro, Ky., Lorie Casey of Louisville, Ky., and Craig Brown of Las Vegas, Nev.; five great-grandchildren, D.J. Brown and Hayden Brown of Owensboro, Ky., Corey Rakes of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Trey and Bailey Rakes of Louisville.

Funeral services were held April 26, at Milner and Orr Funeral Home in Bardwell, Ky., with burial at Kirbyton Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may be directed to the Livermore First Baptist Church building fund, 611 Hill St., Livermore, KY 42352, or to any charity of your choice.