Carolyn Louise (Young) Brown was born in Burwell, Nebraska on January 18, 1956 to Everett Eugene and Doris Lura (Bales) Young. She was raised on a Farm Ranch operation 13 miles NE of Burwell along with siblings Marlan Wayne, Beverly Anne, Everett LaVern, Thelma Irene, Kenneth Eugene, Harold Duane, Elwyn Dean, and Mary Ellen.
Carolyn attended East Side Country School, Garfield Elementary, Midvale 4M, and graduated from Burwell High School. 1976-1980 she attended Grace College of the Bible, graduating with a Bible degree. While there she met and married the love of her life, Michael Lee Brown, on July 28, 1978. To this union were added four children: Jason Lee, Rachel Louise, Esther Lurraine, and Lydia Lyn. A devoted Mom and Wife, Carolyn enjoyed serving her family, including homeschooling, traveling, health and making homemade food, sharing what she had with others, singing hymns, attending church, and gardening. She liked to read her Bible daily, watch sunrises and sunsets, often praying for her friends and family.
Carolyn had a blessed and eventful life. In 1975, she worked at the Curler Factory in Burwell before attending Grace College. For an extended College semester, they traveled to Venezuela on a Missions Internship, where she bore their son, Jason, in 1981. In 1982, Rachel was born in Omaha. In 1983, Carolyn attended, with Mike, and graduated from Children’s Ministries Institute (Child Evangelism Fellowship) in Warrenton, MO; in August, Esther was born. The family then served with CEF® in the Cedar Rapids area. In November of 1985, Lydia was born while they lived in Fairfax, IA. In 1991 Carolyn and Mike attended Language School at RGBI, pursuing God’s calling them to serve in Missions to Peru in February 1992, transferring to Venezuela in May, then returning to USA in June 1994. After serving at Cedar Hills Evangelical Free Church for a year, the family settled into an acreage near Fremont IA, serving as missionaries in the CEF Indian Lakes chapter from 1995 to 1999. In 1996, son Jason was diagnosed with AS, where Carolyn was involved in his care as he underwent treatments. In September 2000, the family moved to Burwell to be with Carolyn’s Mom, Doris Young.
For the next several years, Carolyn served her family, including Jason as required care for his needs progressed. She also enjoyed working at Subway, connecting with her Burwell community. She and Mike visited Utica often until Jason passed away in 2016. In 2017, Carolyn was Mother of the Bride to daughter Lydia, now Mrs. Jesse Roll. On September 12, Carolyn was hospitalized in Ord, NE with severe Anemia, transferred to Kearney, NE where she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. On October 14, 2019, Carolyn passed into Heaven where she met her Best Friend, Jesus, face-to-face.
Preceded in death are her parents, Everett and Doris Young, brothers Marlan and Edwin Allen, sisters Thelma and Rose Marie, and son, Jason, among other dear relatives and friends.
Surviving her are siblings; Beverly Gruver (Olathe, KS), Everett Laverne (Laura) Young (Cheltenham, PA), Kenneth (Virginia) Young (Billings, MT), Harold (Dee) Young (Dill City, OK), Elwyn (Custer City, OK), and Mary (Ty)Lothman (Haviland, KS). Husband, Michael Brown (Burwell, NE), daughters Rachel Brown (Boone, IA), Esther Brown (Burwell, NE), Lydia (Jesse) Roll (Boone, IA), Grandson Ty Hink-Wagner (Imperial, NE), and other cherished family, friends, nieces and nephews.
Carolyn’s request for memorial funds, in lieu of flowers, are for monetary gifts to be donated to the Gideons International and to Ty Hink-Wagner College Fund.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 18, 2019 at the Burwell Baptist Church in Burwell, Nebraska. Pastor Joel Wentworth and Pastor Ray Barry will officiate. Hitchcock Funeral Home in Burwell is assisting the family.
