of Tampa, FL

May 16, 2025

Mary Ann Chrisman Brewer Morden (93) said goodbye to the world on Friday morning May 16, 2025. She leaves behind a grieving extended family including daughter, Julia (Larry) of Tampa, Florida; grandsons, US Space Force Captain Jeff (Emma) Martin of Colorado Springs, Colorado and US Army Captain JJ Martin of Easthampton, Massachusetts; stepdaughter, Dottie (Ken) of Jacksonville and grandson, Kevin (Diana) of Maumelle. She is predeceased by two husbands, Robert E Brewer (1977) and Jeff Morden (1991) and her parents, Frank and Gladys Chrisman of Hartman, Arkansas.

From humble beginnings in a small farmhouse in Coal Hill, Arkansas, to Arkansas Tech University, to travel throughout the Midwest and wherever Julia lived, finally settling in central Arkansas where she continued teaching school for over 40 years mostly at Sylvan Hills and Sherwood Elementaries. She also worked as a summer real estate agent and taught AARPs 55 Alive defensive driving course for over 25 years.

Known for cooking for large and small groups (she never knew just how many might show up for breakfast or dinner), she earned the nickname Mama UNICEF from son-in-law, Larry.

She loved to dance. In her later years she was a Friday and Saturday night regular at Hank's on Hwy 107 where she would dance the night away. And later, at Canterbury Tower where she lived, she danced every Friday night.

She loved to read (''rockin' and readin''' she'd say). Her book collection was legendary - both in Sherwood and in Tampa! She loved anything chocolate (and loved sneaking it to JJ) and a celebratory glass of water with Scotch briefly waved over it.

Born to a schoolteacher/frustrated doctor-want-to-be (her mother's favorite medicinal cure for coughs involved drinking kerosene-laced whiskey and sugar) and a coal miner/farmer. They met when he was the head of a gang of boys on horses who terrorized the countryside and the schoolhouse. She was the schoolteacher who stood up to them and scolded them profusely. It was love at first sight - he, the handsome young man with American Indian blood and she, the fiery, beautiful petite woman of Scottish and Irish heritage. You can already picture who won that meeting, can't you . . .

And unto this wonderful couple, Mary Ann was born.

She saw the Great Depression, (Christmas was often an orange in the stocking and a homemade doll), world wars and met Elvis - which is why there has been Elvis songs playing (yes, she shook his hand, talked to him during dinner one night in the back room of the package store (liquor store/speakeasy) with the owner and her first husband). She has traveled to Europe, Canada, Hawaii, Alaska and more. She followed her first husband across the Midwest and lived in more houses than her daughter did in a military family.

In 1980, she married Jeff Morden, the love of her life. Together they ran the weekend farm, feeding friends and family who showed up to help that day. This wonderful man gave her and Julia a sense of family, belonging and love that continues to this day.

In later years, she moved back to town, then finally in 2018 came to Tampa to live near Julia and family. At Canterbury Tower she knew everyone, spoke to everyone, complimented everyone (''You look Smookish'') she'd say. Never did figure out what that was!

Mary Ann built a family wherever she was - the break room at Sherwood Elementary with her wonderful teacher friends who met for lunch each month for years, the classrooms with her students, Julia's friends who would often just drop by, the Farm where she and Jeff built a life of cows, gardens and the occasional snake who dropped in on the bush hogging from time-to-time. She moved seamlessly between groups of people, always a chameleon, always loved. A lady of bling - she loved her jewelry - and she never ever went a day without makeup, even during hurricane evacuations!

We, her family, choose to remember the good, the fun, the memories of a woman who fiercely defended those she loved . . . as well as the looong Sam's receipts where she'd proudly proclaim she'd saved more money than she spent.

A lot of years of memories - all of which make us miss her even more - a lot of great stories to tell . . . and we'd love to hear them, both here in person and on-line.

Here's a few to get this ''party'' started: Threatening to put an ad in the Little Rock Air Force Base newspaper to get Julia a husband - glad Larry answered that one. Teaching Julia to dance - with both leading, much to Larry's chagrin, in the living room of the house on Hillwood Drive. Coming out to Colorado on a moment's notice to be there when Jeff was born. JJ was too impatient to wait on her. Assisting JJ in his great escapes from Little Rock Air Force Base. Going to see children's plays in Little Rock with Kevin and Dottie. Driving to Memphis with Aunt Marie and Dottie to see the latest exhibitions at the Pyramid. And a personal favorite: the road trip to Nashville with Uncle Billy and Aunt Linda where we visited EVERY SINGLE RESTROOM on I-40 on the way there - and back.

This celebration of memories is in honor of a great lady, a beautiful woman, Julia's mother, Dottie's Cracker Barrel lunch date (the Chicken and Dumplings were particular favorites), Jeff and JJ's Ammaw, Kevin's Memaw and friend to all. This memory sharing is what she wanted. She did not want anyone to be sad - as she said many times near the end: ''I've lived my life, and it was good.''

That's all we can ask for, isn't it?

A Celebration of Memories will be held on Saturday, May 31st at 10:00 a.m. at Roller-Owens Funeral Home.

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