Stella Marie Brown was peacefully taken from this life at 4:45 am on Friday, September 25, 2020, at 83 years of age. She was the 14th child of George and Hazel Morrison (nee: Dalton), born in Deep River, Iowa on Wednesday, July 21, 1937, at 9:46 pm. George and Hazel were honored to have a total of 16 children, 8 boys, and 8 girls.

Stella was preceded in death by her parents; all 15 of her siblings; 3 husbands; 2 children…William Richard and Brad Leon; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Stella is survived by 6 children; 15 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; as well as an untold number of cousins.

Stella moved to central Missouri from Iowa with her family while young and settled in the Annutt Area. As a young adult, she married Floyd R. Geist and together they were blessed with 5 children: Lacy Elizabeth, Sheryl Ann, Robert Eugene, William Richard, and Christine Marie.

Almost 20 years later she married Sammie E. Gabel, a resident of the Corn Creek area in rural Newburg, MO. They were blessed with 3 children: Buck Leroy, Brian Lee, and Brad Leon. This union ended when Sammie departed this life after enduring several medical issues and ultimately succumbing to a heart attack.

After several years of widowhood, Stella married John Brown of Lenox, MO. There were no children from this union, and John passed from this life due to natural causes.

Stella loved her family immensely and was a lot of fun to be around (well…until you broke the rules and needed discipline). Many of us remember summers full of extended family visiting for weeks and months at a time. She made sure there was always something to do…like picnicking at Meramec Springs; picking blackberries and plums; gathering eggs; swimming at the pond; campfires; our very own Olympic competitions; bar be cues, and so much more. What a great time was had by all as everyone pitched in to do the farm chores and enjoy each other's company. She taught anyone that wanted to learn how to milk a cow; feed and care for rabbits; mow the grass; slop the hogs; play baseball; properly bait a fish hook; and how to remove that hook if it got stuck in your dog's mouth. Many (if not all) of us reminisce about those summers with great fondness.

Stella was a devout Christian and those who grew up around her knew that if the church doors were open…we were filling our pews. She was comforted many times by the relationships that came from being true to her faith and were always available to others in need. She loved her church so much that she accepted the continuing responsibility to clean the church each Saturday so it would be ready for services on Sunday. She taught Sunday School lessons to the children in the church and often led the music ministry with her accordion. On Sundays, she would leave her home early enough to make the rounds through the rural community to pick up anyone who wanted to go to church. It often meant that her station wagon was filled to capacity with kids…even filling the very back of the vehicle. Many summers she took on the role of making sure that there was a VBS program offered at the church, and again drove around to pick up any child that wanted to attend. These things she did until she was unable to perform those tasks as well as she thought they needed to be done. She never asked for assistance with expenses and she never turned anyone away. These things she did with great joy and sincere happiness.

Stella had many talents and quite a reputation as a seamstress and baker.

- She created most of the clothes that her children and several of her grandchildren wore in their youth and even made wedding dresses as requested. Her sewing expertise was beyond reproach as was evidenced by her success in operating a home quilting and embroidery business with her sister for many years. One of their creations was a treasured gift for birthdays or at Christmas…and will be cherished by the recipient for many years to come.

- Baking was a true gift of hers. She enjoyed all aspects of baking but her forte was bread. Everyone waited with great anticipation for the weekends because that meant homemade bread. Of course, homemade bread ALWAYS meant there would be fried bread dough, an offering that no one in the family could resist. She also got great pleasure from baking and decorating cakes. There didn't need to be much of a celebration and she would immediately offer to bring a celebratory cake. If she knew of a child that would not have a cake for their birthday, she would automatically set to creating something special for them. "No child should have a birthday without a cake of their very own," she said many times.

This litany could go on and on but suffice it to say that Stella had a kind heart, a quick smile, never met a stranger, was a hard worker, always had a good word to say, and everyone was equal in her sight. She was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.

Knowing that she is now celebrating with the heavenly hosts makes this sadness tolerable but…she WILL be greatly missed.

A final farewell: May the choirs of Angels come to greet you

May they speed you to paradise.

May the Lord enfold you in His mercy.

May you find eternal life.