Elaine Louise Brown

Elaine Louise Brown (Pierson) passed away on Friday, February 12th, 2016, at her home in Sun City Hilton Head, Bluffton, South Carolina, at the age of 68. She had fought a courageous battle with breast cancer for over five years. She is survived by her husband Forrest, daughter Colleen Heaton/son-in-law Josh Heaton/beloved granddaughters Jordan Heaton and January Heaton all of Bluffton, SC, sister Marita Root of Port Crane, NY, brother Ron Pierson of Vestal, NY, brother Gene Pierson of Vestal, NY, brother Jim Pierson of Nichols, NY, and brother Dennis Pierson of Scottsboro, AL. She was preceded in death by her parents Douglas and Arlene Pierson of Binghamton, NY. Born and raised in Chenango Bridge, NY, she graduated from Chenango Forks High School with the class of 1965. She graduated from the Lowell Ridley Business Practices School in Binghamton, NY, with the class of 1966. She began her business career working in Air Force sales at Link Aviation (formerly Singer Corporation), in Binghamton, NY. Moving to New Jersey, she worked as an executive secretary for the Parts and Service Division of Ford Motor Company in Teterboro, NJ. Moving to Colorado, she worked as an executive secretary for the Lincoln-Mercury Division of Ford Motor Company in Denver, CO. It was in Denver that Elaine met the love of her life Forrest Brown who also happened to work for Ford Motor Company. A secret office romance quickly turned serious and the two married in July/1978. They remained together throughout life for 38 years. Her only daughter Colleen was born in Denver and then the family moved throughout the United States in support of Forrest’s Ford Motor Company career while Elaine lovingly took to raising Colleen. Career assignments took the Browns from Denver, CO, to Omaha, NE, Detroit, MI, San Francisco, CA, Laguna Niguel, CA, and back to Detroit, MI. In retirement, the Browns sought the beauty and grace of the Lowcountry offered by Sun City Hilton Head in Bluffton, SC. Throughout life, Elaine always sought ways of giving back to her local community. She was deeply involved with elementary and high school volunteer work, Meals-on-Wheels, Lions Club, elder care, USO, Murray Hill Soldiers Fund (supporting deployed military personnel) and a wide range of other local charities. Elaine found her love of sport in the game of golf. Playing several times a week in retirement, she was known amongst her Sun City Divot Divas group as the long ball hitter. She was also known as the one who always beat her husband. Elaine found her love of adventure in traveling throughout the world with her husband. From Western Europe, to Mexico, to the Caribbean, to Alaska, to the Greek Isles, to Istanbul Turkey, to Northern Africa she was always captivated by the beauty and history of the world. Elaine found her love of family in her daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters. As a proud grandmother, she will always be fondly referred to by her granddaughters Jordan and January as their “Gee”. Memorial services and graveside interment will be held for family and close friends at 3:30PM on Sunday, March 6th at St Luke’s United Methodist Church located on Okatie Highway #170 in Okatie, SC. A reception at the Riverbend Lodge in Sun City Hilton Head will follow. In lieu of flowers, Elaine requested that donations be made to Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, P.O. Box 3827, 7 Plantation Park Drive, Unit 4, Bluffton, SC 29910.