Marilyn Dee McKnight Brown, 87, of Fairlea passed away on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in Nashville, TN, after a short illness. Born May 15, 1938, in Charleston WV, she was the daughter of the late Vaughn and Gae (Carney) McKnight and wife of 58 years of the late Donald Wilson Brown.
Dee is survived by her children: Audrey Ellen Brown Williams (Royce) of Nashville, TN, Anne McKnight Robinson (Max) of Renick, and Stuart Wilson Brown (Amy) of Lewisburg; and grandchildren: Justin (Anna Lee), James (Eva) and Lettie Williams; Hannah Mihok (Michael), Katie, Ben (Jordan) and Nathan Robinson; Nixon, Jeb, Grace and Asa Brown; great-grandchildren: Beau Robinson, James Williams and Skylar Mihok; and beloved nieces and nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and her brother, Ray McKnight.
Mrs. Brown was a graduate of Charleston High School (Class of 1956) and West Virginia University (Class of 1960), where she was inducted into the of the Order of Vandalia and Mountain Honorary and also a member of Chi Omega Sorority where she later served as Chapter Advisor. She was a member and Past-Elder of Old Stone Presbyterian Church.
Raised in Charleston, Dee exhibited her ability to adapt and rise to new challenges as she worked alongside her husband, Don, in the hay fields or whatever task was at hand on the family farm. She carried this same determination in her working career and community involvement as she tackled each new opportunity with excellence, including: Red Cross Swimming Instructor and Pool Manager, Girl Scout Troop Leader, public school teacher, positions in state and federal government including service as the District Representative for Congressman Cleve Benedict, Assistant Vice-President for Institutional Advancement at West Virginia University, Greenbrier Valley Theatre Board Member and Coordinator for the Raise the Roof Campaign, Board Member of the Faculty Merit Foundation of WV, and Board Chairman for the Westminster Foundation for Campus Ministries in WV.
Dee was a devoted wife, daughter, sister, aunt, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved bringing people together and often hosted reunions, family dinners and get-togethers. She liked things done well and took the time and effort to ensure she provided her best.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 3, at Old Stone Presbyterian Church, Lewisburg, with Rev. Julie Olt officiating. Burial will follow in Morningside Cemetery, Renick. A reception will be held immediately following the burial at Old Stone Presbyterian Church.
Friends and family will be received at 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2 at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in Dee’s memory to Old Stone Presbyterian Church, 644 Church Street, Lewisburg, WV 24901; or the Greenbrier Valley Theatre, PO Box 494, Lewisburg, WV 24901.
Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg is in charge of arrangements. Please send online condolences by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFH.com
