Alma Ruth Brown

Alma Ruth (Dhoritey) Brown (69) of Little Rock, Arkansas passed away in her home on Wednesday, April 12th, 2023. She debuted on Earth in Searcy, Arkansas on March 19th, 1954. She was the youngest of four siblings of the late William Henry and Erma (Buck) Dhoritey of Judsonia, Arkansas . Alma, better known as Ruth, was a 1972 Panther graduate of Judsonia High School where she participated in several activities including the FHA, library, drama, and choral clubs. She was part of the speech class play, a contestant in the Judsonia Fall Festival, and was the class treasurer. She also played on the softball, basketball, and volleyball teams while also running track. She loved her high school and participated in many reunions. She studied at UA Little Rock for two years from 1984 to 1986. She was a former Paraprofessional for the Pulaski County Special School District at their Lawson, Wakefield, and College Station Elementary Schools helping students with remedial English and math skills from 1981 to 1991. Alma Ruth began her 30 year career with Walmart on April 1st, 1991. She worked as the Fabric and Arts and Crafts Manager and later a Sales Associate for the Asher Store #920, Bowman Store #126, and Highway 10 Store #5244 in Little Rock, Arkansas. She helped hundreds of thousands of crafters, artists, seamstresses, quilters, and others over the years. Like her sister Betty Jo Lloyd, she was well known for her encyclopedic knowledge of fabric, thread, yarn, McCall's and Simplicity dress patterns, and cross-stitching techniques. "Mrs. Ruth" was loved by all her patrons and co-workers and was responsible for millions of dollars of sales to the company. Alma Ruth was a sassy spitfire but met her match in 1969 when a chance visit to her cousin's house brought her in contact with the love of her life. The dry wit, sarcastic smirk, bright blue eyes, and rugged looks of former US Navy man Billy Don Brown of Russel, Arkansas were too much for her to turn away from. They dated for 3 years. and relished amongst other pursuits, driving across the wild backroads of White County in his 1972 Ford Maverick listening to the music of Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, The Monkeeys and others. Eventually they married on April 8th, 1972, raised 2 children, and shared 43 precious years together. Alma Ruth Brown was a lioness as a mother and a staunch protector of all children and women in need. She would go out of her way to ensure families in need had food, shelter, and any other necessities. She also bought birthday and holiday gifts for less fortunate kids, making sure they knew they were special and loved. Born after the 1952 tornado that destroyed her home town of Judsonia, Arkansas, she never forgot the lesson her parents and the survivors taught her that community spirit matters and you should help others, not just in times of crisis, but everyday. During her various careers, she supported teachers and workers rights and lobbied for better pay. She marched in strikes to let the public know such things as benefits, public education, vacations, medical leave, and living wages are worth fighting for. However she still found time for herself and family. She was a lifetime collector of Barbie and other dolls, loved to play cards and board games, and work crossword puzzles. She was quite a cook and started as a young child making gourmet mud pies with eggs that would develop her skills into an excellent maker of sweet and savory dishes and desserts later in life. There was never a cookbook or recipe published that she did not want to collect. She loved TV shows and movies. She grew up watching Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Dark Shadows. She watched Michael Landon in any production he ever made. She was a huge Julia Roberts fan, and like her sisters, her favorite movie was Gone with the Wind. But her favorite TV show of all time was Days of Our Lives, however The Golden Girls uncannily mirrored her relationship with her real life sisters. Alma Ruth loved to travel to Prospect Bluff Days, War Eagle, and Toad Suck Daze. She was a fervent fan of her treasured Arkansas Razorbacks and beloved St. Louis Cardinals. Alma Ruth moved with her family to Little Rock in 1975, eventually settling in the community of Crystal Valley for 47 years. She was a member of Crystal Hill Baptist Church for 45 years, a Children's Department Director there for ten years, a member of the adult choir, and had many fellow brothers, sisters, and parents in Christ. The most notable were Jesse and Lavada Weaver who “adopted” her as one of their own daughters. She left this Earth four days after her 51st wedding anniversary to be with her husband “Blue Eyes” and the Lord. Her generous heart and “Spirit of Judsonia” will always be cherished and remembered by all who knew her. Our family circle may be broken, another link from it is now gone from our chain. Though we're parted for a while, we know we'll meet again. She was preceded in death by her husband Billy Don; parents; sisters Betty Jo Lloyd and Jannie Rouse ; brother William Bryant Dhoritey; and brother-in-law Rev. Victor Ivan Lloyd . Survivors include her two sons, Damon Dewayne Brown and Billy Don Brown Jr. as well as her granddog, Razvan Fluffbutt Brown all of Little Rock, AR; sister-in-law, Kay Dhoritey of Searcy, AR; brother-in-law, Arthur Rouse of Judsonia, AR; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and their children nationwide. Visitation will be held Friday, April 28th, 2023 from 6-8pm at Powell Funeral Home in Bald Knob, Arkansas. A second Visitation will be held Saturday, April 29th, 2023 at 11am followed by her Service at 12pm at Crystal Hill Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. www.onthehill.org Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery in Judsonia, Arkansas under the direction of Powell Funeral Home. www.powellfuneralhome.net In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her name to the Arkansas 2023 Tornado Relief charity of your choice.

Alma Ruth Brown

March 19, 1954 - April 12, 2023