Monday, March 16, 2009
A short History of Edna Smith Browne
To hear her tell it, our Mother grew up in the “loveliest place on earth” – Nova Scotia, on the Eastern seaboard of Canada. Edna was born on August 26th, 1923, in the village of Tufts Cove, across the harbor from Halifax. Her father’s employment as a railroad telegrapher moved them to the small town of Windsor at the head of the beautiful and fruitful Annapolis Valley. She had 2 younger brothers – Grenfell, now deceased, and Nelson Jr., a resident of Canada’s capitol city of Ottawa. Her parents, Nelson Alexander and Edna May Holmes, raised their children during the Great Depression, which demanded careful stewardship of all resources to survive.
Demonstrating great courage against religious intolerance, her parents were among the very first to accept the message of two young Mormon Elders in Nova Scotia. Edna was so pleased when, years later, a Temple was built in her beloved Halifax. The Smiths remained stalwart and faithful members of the Church all their lives, even permitting their only daughter, Edna, to ride the train to Salt Lake City in 1944 as World War II drew to a close. Her goal was to graduate from B.Y.U, but in her sophomore year she postponed that dream on October 20, 1944 when she married in the Salt Lake Temple a U.S. Air Corps cadet in officer training, Arthur Donald Browne of San Jose, California. At the war’s end, her husband returned to university life to earn his Ph.D. and Edna worked to help defray their expenses.
In 1948 they became parents, and her family grew to include seven children: Carolyn Fay Reed (Jack), Stephen Lee (Marilyn), David Lynn (Linda), Victoria Kay Pearson (Chad), Arthur Dale (Pennie), Laurel Ann Hasson (Reed), and Clifton Bruce.
In 1952 she became a naturalized citizen of the U.S.A., but always considered Nova Scotia her home.
In support of her husband’s demanding career and extensive church service, Edna centered her life around her seven children. She loved being a mother and homemaker and she excelled in both areas. She made her homes beautiful by sewing curtains or hanging wallpaper and art work on the walls. She loved antiques and arranging furniture. She loved designing homes as well. She made each child a custom themed birthday cake in whatever shape the child wanted -- bunnies or football fields, etc. She was a gifted seamstress, sewing matching Easter dresses for her girls, Halloween costumes, and even wedding dresses. A gifted artist and writer, Edna created a little book each year called The Browne’s Christmas Story which gave information on each family member as well as a hand-drawn portraiture. The Christmas greeting also included a poem or song that she wrote for the occasion. For 25 consecutive years, family and friends anticipated receiving this during the Christmas season. She did all this in addition to faithfully serving in leadership callings within the Church.
Now in the 4th generation of her family, Edna loved spending time with her posterity. She hand-stitched an exquisite quilt for each grandchild as they earned their Eagle Scout or Young Women’s Award. She was so proud of each of her 26 grandchildren for accomplishing these goals. As a testament of her family’s adoration, her 31 great-grandchildren call her “Grandma Great.” Each of her sons and many of her grandchildren have served missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Edna and her husband also served a senior couple mission in 1988-90 in Nigeria and Zimbabwe, Africa. Missions and education were very important to Art and Edna. They established a mission/education fund for their grandchildren to encourage these pursuits.
Always eager to complete the college studies she put on hold at age 21, Edna enrolled in the Fulbright College of Fine Arts at the University or Arkansas when the family moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, receiving her B.A. in English and creative writing. With this incentive, she polished some long-delayed manuscripts and published her first two books, Haven and Seabird, both set in Nova Scotia, the place she knew and loved so well. Subsequent writings have included records of her mission experiences, and collections of poems and short stories.
Having lived in nine different states of the U.S. as her husband’s career progressed, Edna adapted to varying circumstances, but always devoted much effort to serving in church auxiliaries. The family has friends worldwide. In 1962, she and Art toured Australia and New Zealand for the church General Sunday School Conference.
Her “Sweetheart” Art, passed away suddenly on October 8, 2002, while they were visiting family and friends on a tour of Nova Scotia. Edna continued to live in her home and serve in her beloved Meadow Wood Ward in Provo, Utah. The final years of her life were spent on her creative pursuits including; creating works of art from stained glass, writing, and quilting. Edna enjoyed good health until the snowy winter of 2007 when it was discovered that she had cancer. She fought valiantly till the end, never complaining and always faithful. Edna’s everlasting legacy will bless and inspire all within her circle of love. She will be remembered for her sweet smile, sparkling blue eyes and loving hands that never ceased to make life beautiful.
Demonstrating great courage against religious intolerance, her parents were among the very first to accept the message of two young Mormon Elders in Nova Scotia. Edna was so pleased when, years later, a Temple was built in her beloved Halifax. The Smiths remained stalwart and faithful members of the Church all their lives, even permitting their only daughter, Edna, to ride the train to Salt Lake City in 1944 as World War II drew to a close. Her goal was to graduate from B.Y.U, but in her sophomore year she postponed that dream on October 20, 1944 when she married in the Salt Lake Temple a U.S. Air Corps cadet in officer training, Arthur Donald Browne of San Jose, California. At the war’s end, her husband returned to university life to earn his Ph.D. and Edna worked to help defray their expenses.
In 1948 they became parents, and her family grew to include seven children: Carolyn Fay Reed (Jack), Stephen Lee (Marilyn), David Lynn (Linda), Victoria Kay Pearson (Chad), Arthur Dale (Pennie), Laurel Ann Hasson (Reed), and Clifton Bruce.
In 1952 she became a naturalized citizen of the U.S.A., but always considered Nova Scotia her home.
In support of her husband’s demanding career and extensive church service, Edna centered her life around her seven children. She loved being a mother and homemaker and she excelled in both areas. She made her homes beautiful by sewing curtains or hanging wallpaper and art work on the walls. She loved antiques and arranging furniture. She loved designing homes as well. She made each child a custom themed birthday cake in whatever shape the child wanted -- bunnies or football fields, etc. She was a gifted seamstress, sewing matching Easter dresses for her girls, Halloween costumes, and even wedding dresses. A gifted artist and writer, Edna created a little book each year called The Browne’s Christmas Story which gave information on each family member as well as a hand-drawn portraiture. The Christmas greeting also included a poem or song that she wrote for the occasion. For 25 consecutive years, family and friends anticipated receiving this during the Christmas season. She did all this in addition to faithfully serving in leadership callings within the Church.
Now in the 4th generation of her family, Edna loved spending time with her posterity. She hand-stitched an exquisite quilt for each grandchild as they earned their Eagle Scout or Young Women’s Award. She was so proud of each of her 26 grandchildren for accomplishing these goals. As a testament of her family’s adoration, her 31 great-grandchildren call her “Grandma Great.” Each of her sons and many of her grandchildren have served missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Edna and her husband also served a senior couple mission in 1988-90 in Nigeria and Zimbabwe, Africa. Missions and education were very important to Art and Edna. They established a mission/education fund for their grandchildren to encourage these pursuits.
Always eager to complete the college studies she put on hold at age 21, Edna enrolled in the Fulbright College of Fine Arts at the University or Arkansas when the family moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, receiving her B.A. in English and creative writing. With this incentive, she polished some long-delayed manuscripts and published her first two books, Haven and Seabird, both set in Nova Scotia, the place she knew and loved so well. Subsequent writings have included records of her mission experiences, and collections of poems and short stories.
Having lived in nine different states of the U.S. as her husband’s career progressed, Edna adapted to varying circumstances, but always devoted much effort to serving in church auxiliaries. The family has friends worldwide. In 1962, she and Art toured Australia and New Zealand for the church General Sunday School Conference.
Her “Sweetheart” Art, passed away suddenly on October 8, 2002, while they were visiting family and friends on a tour of Nova Scotia. Edna continued to live in her home and serve in her beloved Meadow Wood Ward in Provo, Utah. The final years of her life were spent on her creative pursuits including; creating works of art from stained glass, writing, and quilting. Edna enjoyed good health until the snowy winter of 2007 when it was discovered that she had cancer. She fought valiantly till the end, never complaining and always faithful. Edna’s everlasting legacy will bless and inspire all within her circle of love. She will be remembered for her sweet smile, sparkling blue eyes and loving hands that never ceased to make life beautiful.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
In Loving Memory
This blog was created to honor and respect the memory of Edna Smith Browne.
August 26, 1923 -- March 15, 2009
August 26, 1923 -- March 15, 2009
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