Mabel K. Brown

Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home 2650 Niles Road St. Joseph, MI  49085 269-556-9450-Phone 269-556-9570—Fax Thomas L. Starks-Manager   Mabel K. Brown, 91, of St. Joseph, MI passed away Monday, August 4, 2014 at Pine Ridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Stevensville. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, August 8, 2014 at First Presbyterian Church, 475 Green St., Benton Harbor with Rev. Laurie Hartzell officiating.  Friends may visit one hour prior to the service at the church.  Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church.  Those wishing to share a memory of Mabel online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mabel was born March 22, 1923 in Birmingham, England to Cyril and Gladys (Torton) James.  She immigrated to America in 1956 and became a naturalized citizen on May 20, 1965. On June 29, 1963 Mabel married James Brown at First Presbyterian Church in Benton Harbor.  She and James remained members of First Presbyterian Church for over 51 years.  Mabel was a very active member, achieving the honor as Deacon, and also sang in the choir.  She worked as a mail clerk for the Heath Company in St. Joseph for over 25 years.  Mabel was a very talented knitter who volunteered and donated many baby bonnets to Lakeland Hospital.  She was an avid gardener and thoroughly enjoyed her yearly visits to the Upper Peninsula in the autumn where she enjoyed the beautiful scenery and changing colors of the leaves.  She will be greatly missed by all. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, James Brown; sister Janet (James) Wesner of Lawerence, MI and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Betty Marks; and her brother Ken James.