Rae Brown

Funeral service for Laurana "Rae" (Wilson) Brown will be 11 a.m., Fri., March 6, at First Baptist Church of Chelsea. Burial will follow at Winganon Cemetery under the direction of the Chelsea Funeral Home & Cremation Service. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Thurs. 1-8 p.m., and family will greet friends 6-8 p.m.
Rae passed away Monday, March 2, at her home at the age of 73.
The daughter of George and Ruth (La Quette) Wilson was born October 16, 1941, in Madras, Oregon. One day while at the local Dairy Queen, Rae met Billy Joe Brown, who was working on the pipeline. On December 17, 1960, Rae and Billy married in Madras. They moved to Washington, and then to California, where they lived for 30 years.
Rae worked for the family business, Brown Trucking, as a bookkeeper and dispatcher, and then they opened their own drapery business, which they ran for 15 years. In 1993, they moved to Chelsea. Rae worked at several area businesses including Texaco, Colonial Manor Nursing Home, and the Chelsea Library.
Rae attended First Baptist Church and loved reading, Bingo, working puzzles, and spending time with her family. In her younger years, she enjoyed crocheting afghans. She was a very loving woman who would help anyone in need.
Rae was preceded in death by her daughter, Shelli Riggs, her parents, and her grandchildren, T.J. and Tabatha.
She is survived by her husband, Billy of the home, children: Billy Joe Brown, Jr., and Salli Lyn Waugh, and grandchildren: Jane Kramer, Melissa Sweeney, Casey Porter, Daniel Brown, Marcus Brown, Chester Waugh, and Sabrina Waugh. Also brothers: Forest and Casey WIlson, and sister: Sharon Logan.