Stacey Browne

Precious Memories
Stacey Browne
Love is patient,
Love is kind.
It does not envy,
It does not boast,
It is not proud.
It does not dishonor others,
It is not self-seeking,
It is not easily angered,
It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Stacey Browne is the human embodiment of love.  There is no better way to describe her than love itself.  She loved hard from the day that she was born all the way up to her very last breath here on Earth.  Any person who has had the privilege to know her has felt the blessing of God given love.  For those who were not lucky enough to meet her, all you need to do is read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 to get an understanding of who she truly was.  She was and will forever be Love!

Stacey Danelle Andrus was born on October 22, 1962, in Pueblo, Colorado to Frankie Andrus and Audrey Andrus.  She was a blessing given to this human world during a time of enormous turmoil - The Cuban Missile Crisis and the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement.  Audrey sat in her hospital bed sobbing, overwhelmed by the problems her newborn precious daughter will have to face not realizing the Jesus warrior that Stacey would become in the face of all adversity not just for herself but for her family.

Stacey’s formative years were spent in Pueblo with her twin younger brothers, Darrel and Derrick Andrus.  The three of them spent a lot of time with their grandparents Orville and Wilma Benjamin because both of their parents worked at the Army Depot.  At Grandaddy and Grandmother Benjamin’s house Stacey loved playing with the goat and watching over her younger brothers and cousins. In Pueblo she attended Sunset Elementary School and was baptized at St. Paul A.M.E. Church. The family lived in Pueblo until the passing of Stacey’s father, Frankie.  At which time Audrey, Stacey, Darrel, and Derrick packed up their things and moved to Lakewood.

Stacey went to Dunstan Middle School and then went on to Green Mountain High School.  Upon graduation from high school, she enrolled at Colorado State University.  It was at CSU that Stacey formed transformational relationships with lifelong friends and loved ones.  One of these close friends, Jennifer (Williams) Molock, introduced her to the man who would become the love of her life, Jerry Browne.  At CSU Stacey was actively involved in Black Student Services where she worked relentlessly with another heavenly friend, Joseph Rogers, to bring Jesse Jackson and Harry Edwards to the CSU campus.  She left CSU early in order to become a certified court reporter and then to follow in her mother’s footsteps and begin working for the Federal Government.
Stacey tirelessly dedicated nearly 40 years of service to the Federal Government. She started her federal career in 1981 with Western Area Power Administration as a summer aide.  She joined the Department of Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) in 1983 as a high school summer hire in the Royalty Valuation and Standards Division.  Stacey advanced in the organization through her work in Staff Operations, the Office of Enforcement, the Project Management Office, and Information Technology.

As an IT Specialist and Supervisor, she was instrumental in the development and enhancement of MMS, and subsequently the Office of Natural Resources Revenue’s (ONRR) financial system.  Stacey continued to work throughout her illness and was leading the change to migrate MRMSS to the cloud. Stacey was the President of MMSEA (Employee Association) for many years and organized summer picnics and holiday parties for all to enjoy.  She was very dedicated to her work and the people at MMS/ONRR, but most importantly to her family.
On September 2, 1989, Stacey married her best friend and love of her life, Jerry Browne.  Their union can best be described by Mathew 19:5-6, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Jerry and Stacey are prime examples of opposites attract, but together they were stronger than ever, because they completed one another.  The strengths of one made up for the weaknesses of the other.
Stacey was a compassionate and committed wife who encouraged and built up her husband.  She consistently emboldened Jerry to follow his passion of coaching by making space for his dream and supporting him every step of the way.  Stacey would not only go to all the games but would go as far as driving Jerry’s players to school every morning.  Stacey and Jerry’s most devoted moments came every morning when they both would wake up and sit and talk about sports, news, kids, and life. Their marriage was not perfect but served as a beautiful model of a strong healthy relationship for their children.

Together, Jerry and Stacey gave birth to three children - Cameron, Danielle, and Morgan. Motherhood was Stacey’s largest passion and purpose here on Earth.  She made sure to be present for each of her children in the way in which was needed for each of their unique needs. She was a proud mother bear who was fiercely protective of her cubs. She would drive across town or hop on a plane and fly across the country at a moment's notice if she felt there was something wrong with one of her kids. Her hobbies and interests reflected the motivations of her children.  She loved watching all of them play sports and was fiercely proud of their successes. She was very active in ensuring that all three received the best education possible.  She participated in PTAs, served as Presidents of school committees, and even became a parent advocate at the district level. She was at the schools so often she formed authentic friendships with school personnel that have lasted way beyond the years of her kids attending the school. All that knew Stacey, knew that she loved her kids - they were her favorite thing to talk about.

She may have given birth to three children, but she mothered many many more.  When Jerry and Stacey’s close friends, Joe and Kay Rogers, passed away, they opened up their home and heart to the Rogers children, their godchildren - Trent, Jordan, and Haley Rogers.  At that moment it was never a question for Stacey —Trent, Jordan, and Haley were now her kids as well.  From that point forward she supported all 6 of her children as they transitioned into adulthood and encountered all the challenges and stresses that comes with it. Each of them would call her to get advice, to vent, to cry, to be inspired, or simply to reset. Stacey Browne was an inspiring matriarch for a family that is destined for greatness due to her love and presence.

This mothering love of Stacey’s was extended to every young person she encountered.  Every friend of each one of her children viewed Stacey as a second mother.  She would not only care for them but hold them accountable and push them to reach their potential. She loved having a house full of kids. One of her favorite things during the holidays was having everyone over at the house playing one of the many games she kept in the closet. She would also regularly say how excited she would be for those moments when all of her “kiddos” were going to be home all at the same time. She made sure to memorialize each of these moments with a picture.

Stacey was an amazing woman that was filled with love and grace. She blessed every person she encountered.  She loved her job so much she did not see it was work. She rarely took a day off and was regularly seen sitting in front of the tv with her computer on her lap and her headset over her ears. She loved watching crime shows, HGTV, and sports.  But above all else she loved her family.  Wherever they were, that is where she wanted to be. She was a beautiful gift from God to be a mother to all.

On the Eve of the birth of Christ, Stacey Browne’s long battle with cancer ended and she was called home to glory to meet her maker. She was surrounded by her loving husband and all of her kids. Do not cry for Stacey as she fought a good fight and is now at peace with our Heavenly Father, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was loved by so many, but God loved her the most. Stacey Browne you have done well; now rest in peace devoted daughter, sister, friend, wife, and mother. “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” Matthew 23:25

Stacey Danelle Browne was preceded in death by her father, Frankie Andrus, her brothers, Darrel and Derrick Andrus, and host of very close friends.  She is survived by her living legacies and reasons for life, her husband, Jerry Browne, children, Cameron, Danielle, and Morgan Browne, godchildren, Trent, Jordan, and Haley Rogers, Jarrett Molock, and Rody Kinslow. She also leaves to cherish her memory her mother, Audrey Andrus, and loads of friends and family.