Loretta Katherine Brown

Loretta Katherine Brown, 79, of Bowling Green, passed away Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Country View Nursing Facility with her daughters by her side. Funeral services for Loretta will be Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Bibb-Veach Funeral Homes and Crematory with Chris Gamm officiating. Burial will be in Bethany Cemetery in Louisiana, Missouri. Visitation will be Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Loretta was born November 2, 1944 in Bowling Green, Missouri to Charles Wyverne and Hazel Lucille (Shepard) Sutton. She was united in marriage to Ernest (Ernie) William Brown on November 17, 1962. To this union two daughters were born: Charlotte Lynn Brown Speagle and Cheryl Louise Brown Jennings. Loretta graduated high school in May of 1962. Upon marriage, she was a homemaker until 1974 when both girls were in school full-time. Loretta went to work in the school kitchen as a substitute, going to full-time in 1976. She later became the head cook and held that position until retiring in 2007. She also assisted Karen Leverenz and Marilyn Behlmann catering Alumni, Ag, and sporting banquets at the school. Loretta was an amazing cook and baker. She was well-known for her pies, cheesecakes, and cupcakes. Loretta was also an avid cake decorator for over 40 years for the community and surrounding areas. She made cakes for birthdays, retirements, christenings, weddings, graduations, anniversaries, and showers. She catered the desserts at the Community State Bank Diamond Club Banquet for many years. Loretta was also an avid seamstress, sewing and making clothes, mending, and repairing upholstery. She enjoyed quilting and crocheting. She loved to spend her free time fishing and camping, and always had several vegetable gardens she tended. Later in life, she passed the time by working jigsaw puzzles. She was a member of several clubs: a Jaycee Wife “Pooped Pullets”, Jolly Homemakers, Oats, and the High-Rise Social Club, where she assisted in planning events, decorating the building for holidays, and welcoming new tenants. Surviving are her daughters, Charlotte (Lonnie) Speagle and Cheryl (Clifford) Jennings, both of Bowling Green; grandchildren, Michelle (Cody) Speagle McGovern, Rachelle (Brent) Speagle Curtis, and Olivia Speagle (Braxton Kellett); great-grandchildren: Jasmine McGovern, Tyler McGovern, London Curtis, Lillian Curtis, and Cooper McGovern; sister, Shirley Jean Sutton Fanger; and many nieces, nephews, and a large extended family. Loretta was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Richard Lee Sutton; and half-brothers, Charles Thomas Sutton, Edwin Francis Sutton, and Robert Wayne Sutton. Pallbearers will be Charles Hopke, Danny Witthouse, Michael Constable, Chad Brown, Tim Brown, and Chris Brown. Honorary pallbearers are Lonnie Speagle, Cody McGovern, Greg Sutton, Patrick Sutton, Tracy Brown, Clifford Jennings, Brent Curtis, Michael Sutton, Neal Yarrington, and Jeff Sutton. Memorials may be made to Pike County Home Health and Hospice or the Bethany Cemetery.

Loretta Katherine Brown

November 2, 1944 - August 24, 2024