Katherine Brown

Mrs. Katherine Cogswell Brown, 94, of Owingsville passed away Friday, May 1, 2009 at Ridgeway Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility after an illness of several weeks.

She was born on March 27, 1915 in Cogswell, Kentucky, which is now the Cave Run area in Rowan County. She was the 8th child of nine children born to Joseph Pierce Cogswell and Mary Eliza Alfrey Cogswell. Mrs. Brown was a descendent of John Cogswell of New England, which made her the 12th generation in America! Early pioneers, the Cogswell family came to Kentucky in 1787. Other early Kentucky pioneers in Mrs. Brown's lineage include the family names of Alfrey, Beadle, Hopkins, Johnson, Lewis, Manley, McKenzie, Phelps and Ramey.

Mrs. Brown seen the world change so much in her 94 years, from the horse and buggy log cabin days, to seeing man walk on the moon, not to mention the incredible technology that has revolutionized our society today. In a day when few graduated, Mrs. Brown was determined to get her education. She attended Alfrey School in the community and then had to walk 10 miles round trip to attend Farmers High School. She received High School scholarships and attended Morehead State Normal School (now Morehead State University). When Mrs. Brown was 21 years old, she received her High School diploma from Paul Blazer in Ashland, Kentucky.

In 1943 she married her business partner, Charles Raymond Brown of Anderson, Indiana. The Browns owned grocery stores in Newcastle and Anderson, Indiana. They also were farmers during most of their marriage, lastly owning a farm in Bath County. Although Katherine Cogswell Brown had lived in Indiana, Michigan, and California, Kentucky was her home.

She was a member of the Morehead First Church of God and enjoyed music, gardening, flowers and reading the Bible.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Raymond Brown, who passed away on December 16, 1971, three brothers, Fred Cogswell, William Cogswell and Paul Cogswell and five sisters, Gretna Armstrong, May Roberts, Melvie Carpenter, Sally Johnson and Estelle Lewis.

Survivors include one daughter, Nancy Jo Willey McKenzie and her husband (Charles Ray) of Owingsville, two granddaughters, Tammy Jo Kerney and her husband (Mark), and Jennifer Lynn Bowell and her husband (Doug), six great-grandchildren, Ashley Elizabeth Kerney Weldon and her husband (Tim), Gary Joseph Kerney, Christyn Paige Kerney, Alden Michael Kerney, Morgan Ashton Bowell and Chase Douglas Bowell and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Monday, May 4, 2009 at the Midland First Church of God with Rev. Lowell Rice and Rev. Guy McKenzie officiating. Burial will follow in the New Alfrey Cemetery at Farmers. Visitation is from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Sunday at the church.

Pallbearers will be Michael Lee McKenzie, James Carpenter, Billy Joe Cogswell, David Lee McKenzie, Fred Gaskill and Joe Eddie McKenzie and honorary pallbearers will be Gary Henry Willey, Gary Joseph Kerney and Marvin Clifton.

Lane-Stucky-Gray Funeral Home is caring for all arrangements.