Katherine Marie Brown, 83, died April 25, 2022, at Hester Care Center, Hutchinson.  She was born January 21, 1939, in Sharon, KS, the oldest daughter of Lester Eugene and Troye Frances (Hensley) Rose.

Katherine graduated from Whitewater High School in 1956, and Wichita Business College.  She enjoyed volunteering in the community, and served on the Hutchinson Regional Medical Center and Kansas Cosmosphere's Board of Directors.  Katherine served as secretary and treasurer for T&E Oil Company, Inc., which she owned along with her husband, Shorty.  She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.  Katherine was a devoted and loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister.

On April 15, 1956, Katherine married her high school sweetheart, Stanley Eugene "Shorty" Brown, in Wichita.  He died February 12, 2018, after they shared almost 62 years of marriage.

Katherine is survived by: sons, Kevin Brown (Marina) of Hutchinson, and Kent Brown (Lori) of Wichita; sisters, Barbara Balzer (Keith) of Shawnee, and Connie Bogan (Phil) of Fort Worth, TX; four granddaughters, Kelsey Baker (Brandon) of Wichita, Dr. Aunya Cameron of Leawood, Courtney Scherzer (Nate), and Mischia Kirkpatrick (Sam), all of Fairway, KS; and great-grandchildren, Dune Cameron, Kennedy Baker, Roddie Cameron, Knowles Cameron, Camden Baker, and Finnegan Kirkpatrick.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a son, Brent Eugene Brown.

Graveside service will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 6, 2022, at Whitewater Cemetery, Whitewater, KS.  Celebration of Life service will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 6, 2022, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1602 N. Main, Hutchinson, with the Reverend Michael Tomson-Degreeff officiating.  Friends may sign her book from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday at Elliott Mortuary.  The family will greet friends at the church following Katherine's service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Hospice and HomeCare of Reno County, Trinity United Methodist Church, Furley United Methodist Church, or donor's choice, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS  67501.