BEAVER DAM, Ky. — Thelma (Bratcher) Brown, of Beaver Dam, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 27, 2017, at the age of 86. She was born March 17, 1931, to parents Presley O. and Glennie (Carter) Bratcher.
Thelma was married for 41 years to Hill Brown.
Despite hardships early in life, Thelma thrived. She worked tirelessly, along with her husband, Hill, to ensure a brighter future for their children.
Thelma was a woman of faith; she attended Beaver Dam Baptist Church and enjoyed taking part in Sunday School. Thelma was a devoted wife, mother and friend. She was also a successful entrepreneur.
Beginning in 1955, with two small boys in tow, she operated Brown’s Store on Highway 62 across from the old DX and Standard Oil Plants before purchasing the West End Grocery on West Fourth Street in Beaver Dam in 1959. After over 20 years as a grocer, Thelma changed gears and trained as a florist.
In 1978 she opened BB&S Florist in downtown Beaver Dam. Only once she was well into her 70’s did Thelma begrudgingly agree to close down BB&S Florist after over 25 years in business.
She is preceded in death by her husband, parents; brothers, Gilbert “Gib”, Otto (Ina), Victor “Vic,” and John Ray Bratcher; and sisters, Dorothy “Dot” Woods (Dude), Lillian “Sis” Ferguson, and Myrtle Embry.
She is survived by her sons, Brent Brown (Suzanne), of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Byron Brown, of Beaver Dam; grandchildren, Amanda Brown (Jason), Justin Brown (Sara), Cody Cobb, and Cassie Tanzey; great-grandchildren, Kennedy, Reilly, Marley, Memphis, Jonah, Levi, Jack and Harper.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 31, at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam, Kentucky. Burial will follow in Sunnyside Cemetery in Beaver Dam. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday at the funeral home.
Online condolences can be left for Mrs. Brown’s family at www.danksfuneralhome.com.