Melody Kathleen Brown

Melody Kathleen Brown

Great Falls native and Montana attorney, Melody Kathleen Brown, died of lung cancer on Wednesday, December 19, 2018.  Cremation has been entrusted to Croxford Funeral Home.  A Memorial Service will be held on December 29, 2018 at 1pm.

Born to Kenneth and Iola (Johnson) Brown on August 14, 1957 in Great Falls, MT, Melody graduated from C.M. Russell High School in 1975.  She went on to college at the University of Montana, graduating with honors and a B.A. in Political Science in 1985, and from the University of Montana School of Law in 1988.

Melody was married once in her life, to Mark Richards (deceased) of Fairmont, WV, in 1974, divorced in 1977 and never did it again.  She leaves many friends who have been with her through thick and thin: Jennifer Anders, LeeAnn Nelson (deceased), Kathy Knuth, Lauri Ingebritgson, Julia Goodheart, Roxanne Settera, Cora Davis, Judy Loring, Jim Meyer, Doug Williams, (just to name a few) and her favorite cousins, Vicki Hemry, Linda Gibson, Carolyn Harrison and Mona Morley.  Her sister, Kolleen, was her best friend.

Melody worked as an attorney in the Montana Public Defender system for 10 years where she earned a reputation as an attorney who cared about people and would fight for them. She strongly believed in criminal justice reform, and regularly pointed out that only poor people were in the system.  She never represented a rich person.  She also taught for Eastern Idaho Technical College and the University of Great Falls.  Melody was an activist and worked on numerous issues over her lifetime.  She was a founding member of the Cascade County Law Clinic.  She was a former member of the AFSMCE union and worked to organize her workplace on several occasions.  Melody was proud to be a lifelong Democrat.

Melody was devoted to her only son, Kenny and to her family.  She took on difficult issues and fought for social justice her entire life.

“I loved and lost, I played hard, lived fast, and enjoyed life.  I had a good run, as my dad said at the end of his life.  I had everything I needed and most of what I wanted.  Do not grieve for me, live for me.  When you smoke that medical marijuana, think of me!! Love Is All There Is.”

Survivors include her son, Kenneth Cougar Brown, Great Falls; sister, Kolleen Spurgin, Great Falls; one niece, Kelsey Spurgin, Great Falls; three nephews, Jeff (Johanna) Meyer, Springfield, VI, Shawn (Tina) Meyer, Alexandria, MD and Steve (Mikeala) Meyer, Loveland, CO. 

Melody was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Iola Brown; her sister, Loralee F. Brown; her maternal and paternal grandparents and aunt and uncles, cousins, and her brother-in-law, Jeff Spurgin.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.croxfordfuneralhome.com

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