Obituary of Penny Marie Brown

Penny Marie Collins Brown

Penny Brown died on June 6th at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette, Colorado after fighting pancreatic cancer for several months.

Penny was born at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital on March 2nd, 1951, daughter of Lloyd and Theresa Collins. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and then graduated with honors from Metropolitan State College with a degree in Criminal Justice Administration. Her career in Criminal Corrections included founding and directing LOFT House in Adams County, serving as a Parole Officer for the State of Colorado, as Undersheriff and Commanding Officer of the Adams County Jail, and as Facility Director of the Mount View Youth Services Center.

In 1988 Penny married Mike Brown, and is survived by him, her daughter Laura Thompson, her son Bryson Brown, and her grandchildren Samantha, Brandon and Brian Marrujo. She is also survived by her brother Pat Collins and his wife Lois, her sister Shannon Huerta and her husband Nick, and her sister Paula Fidelman and many nieces and nephews.

Penny loved to travel and after college she and a girlfriend rode a ferry to Alaska, sleeping on the deck in sleeping bags. She later traveled through Italy, Switzerland, France and Germany. She and Mike went to Mexico, Costa Rica, the British Isles, Italy and Alaska and visited many places in the United States. She sometimes traveled without Mike when she went to places such as South Africa, the Galapagos Islands and Central America with girlfriends. (Mike learned his lesson about being the only man with a gaggle of ladies).

In 2010 Penny and Mike took Bryson into their home when he was two years old and have been raising and loving him from that time.

She was a talented artist and decorator, and her home is an inviting combination of elegance and comfort.

Penny possessed an innate goodness of soul, and her charisma attracted many, many people to friendship. She was a generous benefactor to many charities and organizations. She was active on many boards, committees and panels and was very involved in her Home Owners Association.

Penny’s funeral will be held on June 29th at 10:30 at Christ Community Covenant Church in Arvada. A reception will follow at the church. Penny will be cremated, and her ashes will be interred at Fort Logan National Cemetery, to be joined by Mike’s someday.