Willie Moose Brown

On Wednesday, October 2, 2019, Willie Moose Brown, loving wife and mother of four children, passed away at the age of 91, of natural causes, in Concord NC.

Willie was born on May 2, 1928 in Concord, to Wilbert and Elizabeth (Childers) Dry. Her parents worked in textiles with the Cannon Mills. She was the forth child born of six children, with three sisters and two brothers. After graduating from Hartsell high school in 1946, Willie enjoyed waitressing and assisting the pastry chef at the Concord Hotel. Willie reminisced the day she served, "Jimmy Durante". After meeting her future husband at a downtown soda fountain, in 1946, Willie Dry married Joe Moose after he was discharged from the Navy in WWII. She borrowed Mrs. McCorkindale's diamond bracelet, (her supervisor), to wear on her wedding day. Willie and Joe pursued careers in textiles, with Cannon Mills. Willie, boarding stockings at the Hugh-Gray hosiery mill, and Joe, maintaining textile loom machinery. They raised one daughter, Joanna, and three sons, Stephen, Mitchell, and Alex. Each earning a college degree pursuing diverse fields ranging from nursing, and mechanical engineering, to business administration, and cable television. After moving to Homestead FL in 1959, to accommodate Joanna's asthmatic condition, Willie pursued a variety of jobs, including sales of carpet and floor tiles, shoes, and Singer sewing machines. Willie made life long friends working in the nursing field and for the agricultural department, with Michele Reynolds of Coral Springs. Joe pursued a new career in exterior electric at HAFB in civil engineering. Willie and Joe finished building their ranch style home in 1964 on Avocado Drive. The family planted a variety of citrus trees, cedar trees, palm trees, and fruit trees to enjoy. The children were encouraged to breed and sell chickens, fresh eggs, and rabbits. Piano lessons were taught by Mrs. Ella Thomas to all. Willie had a passion for painting Florida landscapes and was a gifted connoisseur of collecting and restoring antique furniture. She was known for her infectious smile and laughter; and her keen emphasis on family and spiritual values. Willie, a 35 year breast cancer survivor and a patient of Dr. Robert Derhagopian of Miami, broke new ground in regards to exploring different options of breast cancer treatment. After the death of her first husband Joe, after 35 years of marriage, in 1984, Willie married Joseph Brown, a retired English professor and real estate developer. They enjoyed five wonderful years of ballroom dancing, acting and singing in senior stage productions, and travelling; especially enjoying their time in Hawaii and chartering riverboat cruises. Willie received passionate loving care from her youngest devoted son , Alex, during her declining health over the past 7 months in Homestead and Charlotte. To whom we are most grateful.

Left to honor Willie and remember her love are Willie's four children, Joanna (David) Springle, Dunnellon FL; Stephen (Joe Kimpel), Titusville FL; Mitchell Moose, Lake Worth FL; and Alex (Kim) Moose, Charlotte NC. Four grandchildren, Samuel (Mini) Sosa, Pompano Beach FL; Martha (Ian) Evans, Oldsmar FL; Joey (Christina) Moose, Charlotte NC; and Ciara Moose, Summerfield FL. Three step grandchildren, Nicole Puglisi, Alex William Shanks, and Pamela Springle. One great grandson, Max Varghese Sosa. Four step great grandchildren, Jaylah Springle, Xander Shanks, Gabby Shanks, and Ruby Shanks. Any many nieces and nephews, especially her niece , Gail Preslar Smith, of Concord. "I'll see you at the top of the hill".

Willie was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Roy and William, and sisters, Margret, Helen, and Ruth, and husbands, Joe Moose and Joseph Brown.

Bell Tower Graveside service was held on Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 11:00 am, at Carolina Memorial Park in Kannapolis, NC.

Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.