MOUNDVILLE, Mo. — Mary Anna Elizabeth Brown Laflen, 99, Moundville, Mo., passed away after a short illness Aug. 6, 2013 at Christian Health Care in Nevada, Mo.  
She was born Jan. 24, 1914 in Carleton, Neb., the daughter of Arthur John and Rhoda Ellen Wheeler Brown. She was married Aug. 15, 1931 in Butler, Mo. to Allen Matthew Laflen, who preceded her in death on Aug. 7, 2009. They were married for 77 years.
Mary and Allen, who were both actively involved in the community, were blessed with six children. Mary was a member for more than 50 years in the Drywood Community Club and a member of the Moundville United Methodist Church.
She received several 4-H awards for her service to the Vernon County 4-H, where she served as a cooking, electricity, and photography leader.  She worked at the vegetable building for the Vernon County Youth Fair for many years. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Liberal, Mo. and Nevada, Mo. She was very proud of her work on the agricultural and U.S. Census. She loved trivia games, reading, and adored traveling while visiting all 50 states, Australia, New Zealand, the Soviet Union, Mexico and Europe. Some of her best memories were camping with the family in Wyoming and New Mexico, traveling to Yellowstone with the older four children, and traveling to Alaska.
Mary attended schools in Rockville Mo. and Appleton City, Mo. and graduated from Nevada (Mo.) High School in 1931.  After finishing teacher training classes, she taught at Avola, Mo.
She is survived by three sons, John Matthew Laflen and wife Shirley, Buffalo Center, Iowa; Robert (Bob) Allen Laflen and wife Karen, Houston, Texas; and Jerry Mark Laflen and wife Betty Jo, Moundville, Mo.; two daughters, Bess Ellen Sellens and husband Howard, Hoisington; and Penny Jo Anna Beattie, Nevada, Mo.  
Mary had 15 grandchildren, Phil and Boni Sellens, Great Bend; Scot and Susanne Hines, Anchorage, Alaska; Bruce and Jennifer Hines, Franklin, Tenn.; Mary and John McGee, Fort Collins, Colo.; Susan and Eric Rokke, Monument, Colo.; Christy and Jay Merfeld, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Cindy and Christian Miller, Buffalo Center, Iowa; Cheri Morrison, Ames, Iowa; Coral and Jerry Jordan, Sigel, Pa.; Julie and David Brown, Houston, Texas; Jill and Nick Gonzalez, Austin, Texas; Joseph and Adrian Laflen, Springfield, Mo.; Jerry and Jill Laflen, Denver, Colo.; Jeff and Holly Laflen, Olathe; and John and Julie Laflen, Pittsburg.  
Mary also had 40 great-grandchildren and four great- great-grandchildren plus numerous nieces and nephews, a brother-in-law, Leonard Curry, Milo, Mo.; and three sisters-in-law, Mildred Brown, Joplin Mo.; Helen Runge. Edgewood, Ky.; and Mildred Robuck and husband George, Annapolis, Md.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur John and Rhoda Ellen Wheeler Brown; three brothers, Crawford Brown, Max H. Brown, and Newton Brown; two sisters, Iona B. Wabaunsee and Nancy Ellen Curry; a daughter and son-in-law, Mary Pauline Laflen Hines and Paul Hines; a granddaughter, Kathleen Ann Hines, and a son-in-law, Michael Beattie.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Ferry Funeral Home Nevada, Mo. with Kennon Shaw officiating. Interment will follow in Milo Cemetery, Milo, Mo.
Friends may call until the hour of service at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada, Mo. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Sunday between 5 and 6 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions  to the Milo Cemetery Association, in care of Ferry Funeral Home, 301 S. Washington Nevada, Mo., 64772.
You may view obituary and send condolences on line at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Ferry Funeral Home ##
301 S. Washington
Nevada, MO, 64772
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Aug. 11, 2013