Madeline Josephine Brown was born on June 21, 1928, in Buckholt, TX, to Herbert and Josephine Fiedler. The seventh of nine children, she enjoyed a happy, busy childhood on the family farm.

Madeline was an enthusiastic learner, voracious reader, starting at a young age. After graduating from Cotulla High School in 1946, Madeline attended Incarnate Word College before the polio epidemic and a failed crop cut short her college aspirations.

Madeline married Charles Vernon Brown, Jr. in 1947, and they moved to the Brown Ranch in 1948, where Vernon was already in partnership with his father. In 1961, Vernon and Madeline started a dairy in addition to ranching to help support their family, which now included seven children. Along with devotedly caring for her children and Vernon, Madeline helped with any ranch and dairy duties. She was especially content when these duties included horseback riding.

Madeline and Vernon were a true love story and wonderful parents. They raised their children to be kind, honest, loyal, hard-working, and to see the best in others. Madeline often remarked that one of her proudest accomplishments was that her children all graduated with a degree from Texas A&M University.

A talented artist, Madeline began painting after her children were grown. Most of her work included wildlife and scenery of the South Texas brush country, which she loved. Her paintings and prints are treasured mementos to her family.

Being a grandmother was one of Madeline's greatest joys. Her kind and gentle ways endeared her to her fifteen grandchildren and twenty-one great-grandchildren. Madeline also loved her extended family, always enjoying her time at the many joyful gatherings and family reunions with aunts, uncles, and cousins throughout her lifetime.

Madeline was a long time member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Cotulla, and was part of the choir for many years. She was active in the St. Anne's Society, the Cotulla Garden Club, and the LaSalle County Fair Association. She especially enjoyed the annual LaSalle County Wild Hog Cookoff.

Madeline passed away peacefully on August 5 at the age of 94. The family is grateful to the many caregivers who assisted her at home and at Las Palmas Nursing Home in her later years.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Building Fund, 307 S. Main St., Cotulla, TX 78014 or the Brush Country Museum, 201 S. Stewart St., Cotulla, TX 78014.

Madeline was preceded in death by her parents: Herbert H. Fiedler, Sr., and Josephine Guidi Fiedler; husband;  Charles Vernon Brown Jr., siblings: Tillie (Fred) Hillje, Herbert (Katherine) Fiedler, Leander "Landy" Fiedler, Frank "Pancho" (Mamie) Fiedler, Ray (Edith) Fiedler, Welton (Patty) Fiedler, Katherine "Katie" (Floyd) Schulz, and brother-in-law Jack Rymal; and daughters: Dianne MacDiarmid, Joan Madeline Stokes, and Loretta Louise Brown.

She is survived by her sister, Mary Alice Rymal; her children: Mark R. (Hanan) Brown of San Antonio, J. Alan Brown of Tilden, son-in-law John MacDiarmid, son-in-law Bill Stokes, Charles Vernon (Diann) Brown III of Cotulla, and Sandra J. (Ford) Taylor of College Station; her grandchildren Suzanne (Robert) Paulsen, Denise Brown, Justin Brown, Linda (Michael) Lang, Josh (Mary Alice) MacDiarmid, Ian (Kristen) MacDiarmid, Cameron (Megan) MacDiarmid, Melissa Stokes, Angela (Ray) Thorsen, Benjamin Stokes, Brenda Davis, Amanda (Tye) Snowden, Whitney (Mark) Hemy, Emily Taylor, and Quincy Taylor; twenty-one great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 19, 2022, at Peters Funeral Home from 5:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00p.m. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2022, at 10:00a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Interment will follow at the Sacred Heart Cemetery.