Marybelle was born on August 13, 1932 to Fredrick Leslie Stonely and Rhea Walsh Stonely in Pawtucket, RI.
The family lived in Lincoln RI and Marybelle graduated from St. Xavier’s Acadey and Hubbard Business School in Providence.
Marybelle worked as a booking machine operator at Industrial Trust National Bank in Pawtucket, RI for several years.
She met Robert M. Brown, Jr. a staff seargent in the Air Force when he was stationed at Camp Edwards on Cape Cod.
She married the love of her life, Robert Morris Brown, Jr. in 1955 while he was attending Southeastern Massachusettes University. After his graduation they settled in Franklin, MA and raised a family of four sons and a daughter. Bob worked in the field for General Telephone and the family traveled to California eight consecutive summers driving across country sixteen times accompanying him on assignments.
When Bob retired the couple moved to Port Hueneme, CA where the children had settled after graduation. Bob took a job with the Navy there running a training center and Marybelle volunteered as his aide.
In 1994 they moved to Marrowstone Island, building a home on the southern boundary of Fort Flagler. They spent many hours volunteering at the park and were two of the founding members of friends of Fort Flagler, Marybelle serving as the first president. They received several awards including the state park’s award of excellence in volunteering twice.
The couple was nominated Marrowstone Island’s Citizens of the Year in 2001.
Marybelle was a quilter and a member of Cabin Fever Quilters Guild for 10 years. She was a member of Nordland Garden Club serving as president in 2006-2007. She was also a member of Friends of Fort Flagler.
She is survived by husband Robert M. Brown, Jr. of Marrowstone Island, four sons and wives, Robert Brown III and Lisa of Marrowstone Island, David and Charlene Brown of Bend OR, Christopher and Melanie Brown of Camarillo, CA, James and Lori Brown of Thousand Oaks, CA, and daughter and son in law Susan and Kevin Miller, Marrowstone Island. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren and six great grandchildren and one brother and sister in law, Richard and Nancy Stonely of Lincoln, RI.
Her greatest joy and love was her family.
