Avis W. Brown
Avis W. Brown, 35, of Lyman, died March 29 at the Southern Maine Medical Center after a lifelong struggle with Osteogenesis Imperfecta.She was born in Pine Ridge, SD on September 19, 1974 and was the daughter of David and Lynelle (Hartpence) Brown.Her spirit shone through her debilitating condition. Her mission in life was to be "Auntie" and she lived her life vicariously through her nieces and nephews. In recent years she learned to knit and crochet which became her passion. Family members could count on her commemorating events in their lives with the gift of a hand-crafted blanket or afghan. Her family recalled that her generosity and positive outlook were traits for which she will always be remembered.She was predeceased by her father in 2006.Survivors include her mother Lynelle H. Brown of Lyman, a sister Johanna Gilland, her husband David and their children Kaden and Elina of Lyman with whom she resided, a brother Benjamin Brown, his wife Deirdre and their son Khalil of Iowa, a brother, Brian Brown, his wife Silvita and their daughter Arianna of Chicago, IL, her maternal grandmother Elnore Hartpence of Custer, SD, her paternal grandmother Maxine Brown of Denver, CO, and several aunts, uncles and cousins.A graveside service will be held on Thursday, April 1 at 3:00 PM at Brooks Memorial Park on State Road in Eliot. A reception will follow at her home on 32 Elizabeth Lane in Lyman.Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Osteogenesis Imperpecta Foundation at www.oif.org, or to her family to assist with expenses. Arrangements are under the care of the Lafrance-Lambert & Black Funeral Home, 29 Winter Street, Sanford. Condolences may be expressed at the Condolences tab at left.Map to CemeteryMap to Reception
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Avis Winona Brown Myers was my wife, a wonderful woman who had a heart far bigger than her small body. While I’ll admit that things were not the greatest between us at the very end–it’s a long story for another day, but suffice it to say it was nothing that she caused in any way at all–I always loved her and still do. We’d first met in 1999 when we were living in different parts of the country, and even so nearly got together then. Instead we decided to build a tremendous friendship that would be destined to develop into romance later on, which it did in June of 2001 when I arrived in Custer, South Dakota and finally met her in person after two years of deep conversations by phone and as many letters as we could manage to send between us. Our journey had many twists, turns, detours and rough spots from there, but we also made amazing memories I’ll treasure always. We would move to Biddeford, Maine and her parents. Dave and Lynelle, in April 2002 and were already long since engaged unofficially. We would marry on September 25, 2003 by candlelight in the front yard of the house, me in poetic black and she in red velvet dress custom made, one of a kind just like her. I say poetic, because I was and am a poet, who wrote some of my best stuff in those times, inspired by and dedicated to her–and sometimes outright about her. She would be there for the readings I did from my books, that sold almost none but were a hit with her. Avis lived a full life and defied the odds many times in regards to her struggles with osteogenesis imperfecta–in truth she was one of the strongest people I’ve ever known. She was very spiritual, teaching me much about these things as we spent years together. And just over 11 years ago now, she crossed over into that beautiful and blessed Summerland free of physical pain and limitation. While she was here in 35 years she touched the lives of all she met, and I was no exception. She was a phenomenal auntie and an awesome birdie mommy to our cockatiel Winnie, and she was my wife, my companion, my friend. And while I am in a new era of my own life and in some ways it feels like a number of lifetimes have come and gone since we were together, she will never be forgotten and she will always be loved.
– Edward “Teddy Moonbeam” Myers