BRADY — Bernice E. Brown, 85, longtime resident of Brady, died Sunday at a Cozad nursing home.

She was born Aug. 19, 1905, at Farnam to Roy and Alice Robinson Wear and attended school at Farnam. She married Basil Brown in 1924. They lived in Cambridge and Gothenburg before moving to the head gate of the 30-mile canal, southeast of Brady, where they lived for 13 years. They moved to Brady in 1941.

Mrs. Brown was employed by the Brady Telephone Office as an operator in the 1940s and operated a cafe in the early 1950s. They lived in Brady until February 1987.

She had been a member of the Brady American War Mothers.

Survivors include two sons and wives, Clarence and Eunice of North Platte and Don and Anita of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a daughter, Audrey (Mrs. Dale) Hinchcliff of Shelton, Wash.; a brother and wife, Alvin and Zoe Wear of Colorado Springs; two sisters, Betty Norgaard of Euless, Texas, and Ima Jean Lamm of Arkadelphia, Ark.; 19 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1987; an infant son; four brothers, Raymond, Harold, LaVern and Clinton; a sister, Elta Yant; and two grandsons.

Graveside services will be 1 p.m. Friday at the Brady Cemetery.

A memorial has been established to the Brady Fire Department.

Odean Colonial Chapel at C and Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

The North Platte Telegraph