Alice Luella Brown

Alice Luella Schroder was born on February 20, 1924 in Vici, Oklahoma to Lenard and Elsie Schroder and passed away April 11, 2016 at the age of 92 in Springfield CO. Alice Luella Brown was born on February 20, 1924 to Leonard and Elsie Schroder in Vici, Oklahoma. She had a younger brother, Derral. Her mom died at an early age. Leonard remarried to Florence Self and Alice gained two step brothers and a sister, Don and Vic Self and Mary Brower. When Alice was a little girl, her family left Oklahoma and made their way to Baca County and set up their home. Their home was a one room dug out 1 ½ mile east of the Maddox school. Alice and Derral attended Lone Star School. She finished her high school years at Vilas High School. During this time, she met and fell in love with Kenneth “Jap” Brown. The two were united in marriage in a double wedding with her best friend, Edna Cottrell and Dean Baldwin in Boise City, Oklahoma. To be able to go on their honeymoon, both couples had saved and shared their green stamps to be able to purchase gas and tires. Soon to the couple, two girls were born, Carolyn D’Ann and Katheryn Lea. She taught her daughters their cooking and sewing skills. She made them take piano lessons as she tried to make all of her grandchildren take the same lessons. Her daughters still are cooking and teaching her recipes to their children and grandchildren. Alice has always been a hard worker. After Jap and her were married they began raising broom corn. Alice cooked and served many broomcorn johnnies breakfast, lunch and dinner sometimes hauled the meals to the fields. Carolyn and Kathy remember helping her make fresh biscuits and gravy for breakfast, getting the dishes done just before time to cook lunch. Some of Alice’s spare time activities included playing the piano by ear, being a 4-H leader for sewing and cooking. She was also one of the first ladies to sell Avon. She was also a fashionista as we found pictures of her in high heels and platform shoes. She enjoyed watching the birds out of her kitchen window. You never saw her with out a cold Mt. Dew. Alice lost Jap in 1968. Her son-in-law, Carlos or better known as Charlie Maestas, soon became her farming and ranching partner. While Charlie was alive, it was very seldom did you see Alice or Charlie separated. They were always moving tractors, trucks, working cattle, and anything else that needed done. In the summer, she always appreciated being able to hire the neighbors sons to help load up hay, or drive the tractor without the air conditioner. She was glad to have an Allis-Chambers tractor and it was considered hers as it was air conditioned and had a cab. As time went on, her arthritis never stopped her from getting into a tractor. Charlie kept welding steps lower and lower to help her get to the driver’s seat and then she was on her way. Alice was a part of the American Ag strike and a large supporter of the American Agriculture movement. Her kitchen table was considered the board room. There were many discussions, a few not so pleasant, at that table. Many family members and friends ate meals or just sat around the table to have coffee and a good visit and a good meal. The room was always warm with her smile and love for everyone and the wall heater not too far from her favorite spot. If the walls could talk, the stories would be endless. Alice enjoyed her daughters and their families. Summers brought garden harvests where she taught her granddaughters how to can and freeze vegetables. We all enjoyed homemade ice cream made by the old fashioned crank freezer, the grandsons got to do this honor. The back steps and picnic table hosted many watermelon feasts on hot summer days. Even though Alice seemed mild mannered, you didn’t want to make her mad, just ask some of the grandkids who was within reach of the long white flyswatter handle. She saw so many changes in her life. She lived through the dust bowl and lived through Y2K. She lived through the days without TV, radio, running water. She was a true pioneer woman of Baca County. Alice was always a firm believer in the almighty God, her bible was always by her chair so she could pick it up and read her scriptures when ever she wanted. She was baptized on January 28, 2016, in her home surrounded by her loving family. Alice left this life on April 11th. She is surpassed in death by her husband Jap, father and mother, Leonard and Elsie, step mom Florence, brothers Derral, Vic and Don, a baby sister, and son-in-law, Charlie Maestas, sister-in-law Gladys Schroder. She is survived by her daughters, Carolyn (Lon) Kerr of Goodland, Kansas, and Kathy Maestas of Vilas. Her sister, Mary Brower of Kansas. Her grandchildren, Lonnie, Aaron, Carla, Kenneth, Melissa, Kristen and Mindy, 7 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, cousins and lots of friends. Alice will be greatly missed by her many friends, and family! The family suggests memorial contributions be given to the Southeast Colorado Hospital District in memory of Alice. Donations may be given by way of the funeral home or directly to 373 East 10th Ave. Springfield, CO 81073.