How it all started...
The church in Geary, Oklahoma started in 1889 when early members began meeting in borrowed buildings at Main Broadway. In 1901, a building was constructed and dedicated to serve the congregation. In 1924, a basement was added for Sunday school classes, and in 1954, a concrete block educational unit was built to accommodate classrooms, a reception hall, and a kitchen with bathrooms. Under the guidance of Cecil Berry, PhD., the sanctuary was demolished in 1967 to make way for a new brick and stone building that would house a worship and fellowship hall with executive offices. In 1996, a new project began to refurbish the sanctuary and add more classrooms. In 2016, the church purchased a building directly caddy corner from the main church and renovated it into the Toots Brown Memorial Event Center, or Brown Event Center for short. The congregation voted to withdraw from the Disciples of Christ fellowship in 2018 and since 2019, the Brown Center has been used as a youth center. Since 2023 the main church has had a facelift.
Expanding the vision...
We are truly blessed that our church has continued to grow and thrive for the past 122 years. We owe this growth and improvement to the incredible generosity and kindness of individuals like Brownie and Toots Brown, as well as many others who came before us. As always, we put our faith and trust in the Lord, and we remain committed to spreading the love of God to others in our community. We are excited to see what the future holds as we continue to minister to those around us.
Where we are headed...
We express our love for God and humanity by following four principles: connecting, growing, serving, and going. We connect with the body of Christ, our fellow believers, to strengthen our faith. We grow in our faith by attending Sunday morning services, participating in Sunday School, engaging in bible study, and spending personal quiet time with God. We serve others by giving back and investing in their lives. Finally, we go out into the world to make disciples and spread the gospel of Christ.
Remembering Russell "Brownie" Brown.
Printed in the Geary Star-- June 8, 1995 Written By Nadyne Burruss
Russell Hobson Brown 'Brownie' to all who knew him. was born July 1, 1898 in Delphi,Indiana. He had three brothers - G.K. Brown. Norman Brown and A.W. Brown - all deceased. Brownie's mother was married a second time, and to that union was born three more sons - half-brothers to Brownie. They were William Atkins and J. Atkins (both deceased) and Jack Atkins who lives in Mississippi; also a half-sister, Flary Atkins Rhyne, also deceased.
Brownie lived as an orphan in his grandmother's home in Indiana for a time. After some time, he moved from Indiana to Eastern Oklahoma, and from there on to Geary.Entering grade school in Geary, Brownie found himself in a classroom where there was only one empty seat. That seat was next to a young lady named Frances Norris. To Brownie, she was "Toots". September 26, 1920, Brownie married:Toots and the couple enjoyed 67 happy years together until Totts's death on August 25, 1987.
When Toots fell ill and was hospitalized, Brownie literally talked her into fighting to live. He eventually was able to take her home and care for her many months before he finally had to give in to overseeing her care in the Geary Nursing Home.
Brownie had a special yen for things mechanical. As a young boy, he had asked the first car dealer here whether he might sweep out the garage, just so he could be around the mechanic and watch him work on the cars. Geary had seven car dealers in the community at that time. Brownie later credited that man with saving his very life. The typhoid epidemic had struck the community, and Brownie was sick with the fever. The man became concerned when Brownie failed to report for work. At that time. Brownie was living in an upstairs room. above where the bank parking lot is now. For several days, the man went to Brownie's room, spoon feeding him and nursing him back to health. Russell was always grateful to that man for his life.
He became quite a mechanic in his own right, always had a big manual for every car he owned. He studied to learn how to fix anything that needed fixing. He saw life as an on-going educational process. His house was filled with how-to books, a small library on how electricity works, how to wire, etc.
Brownie's work at the garage evolved into driving the "livery" (taxi) service. In this, he took the local doctors to the various homes around the community. He also picked up individuals at the railroad station and delivered them on to their destinations. He even took people to their out-of-state destinations - Hot Springs, Arkansas and the like. He once told us of taking three days to drive an individual to Amarillo, Texas: then returning to Geary on the train (a return trip which took only one day.) Brownie was well known for giving great service and being just a very pleasant person to be around.
Together, Brownie and his wife Frances "Toots," built their business, beginning with a newsstand in the old post office in Geary. Their expanding business created the need for a building of their own. By himself, Brownie renovated an old movie house, next door to the Coats Bakery, now the drive thru for the Peoples National Bank. Not common to the man of that era, he always was quick to give Toots' management of money as the reason they were able to purchase and renovate the store.
Being something of an entrepreneurial visionary, Brownie and Toots' building had the first fluorescent lighting installed in the City of Gary. Their establishment also had the first linoleum floor covering and a refrigerated soda fountain that had come from the bakery next door. They ran their business together except for the World War II years when Brownie would drive into Tinker Field every weekday to work.
Brownie wanted so much to be able to serve his country during the Second World War. but he was too old to be drafted; and because of a hearing impairment, he was rejected for enlistment. So. Toots kept the store open here in Geary, while Brownie worked at Tinker. This was his war effort.
Delivery trucks weren't running because of the gas shortage, so Brownie would pick up supplies for their store inventory as well as supplying the needs of many others in the community. In turn, there were those who helped him with the gas he needed for his daily trips to the City.
The Browns were good neighbors. So many Geary and remember Brownie going about his work singing or whistling throughout the day and into the night. The Brown's soda shop was the place to hang out after music and dance lessons, ball games and movies, etc., until parents came to pick up their kids.
They stayed open late some nights because parents were late. They looked out for the youth of Geary.
They had a large display of comic books and good magazines in the front window, and they seemed to not mind that the young folks came in and read the books. The Browns had no children of their own, but the youth all felt a special relationship to them. Brownie confided in me at one time that at the outset, he and Toots decided not to have children. It seemed at that time that so many women died during childbirth. •1 told Toots, I just couldn't stand to lose her like that," Brownie confided, "besides, there are just so many kids out there who needed parenting," Brownie said. "We just decided we would help be parents for them." Some who were teenagers at the time reflected, "They would have corrected us if we were doing something wrong."
Toots and Brownie were people of high ideals and standards. They were a great part of a child's life growing up in Geary. They created an atmosphere that made you want to do your best. It was expected of you and you knew they recognized you for it. All ages of people enjoyed visiting with the Browns in their place of business. We thought it terrible when the Browns sold their store and retired. It would never be the same - and it wasn't! We had been privileged to have known them and been a part of their lives.
Brownie loved to sing. He continued to sing all through his life. He sang for weddings, funerals, church services, community groups and any occasion he was asked. He had a beautiful voice and even his speaking voice was a melody. His roommate at the rest home thought Brownie was in pain as he (being hard of hearing) could hear him moan in his sleep. The man's daughter checked this out only to find Brownie was humming to himself as always.
Brownie was an UP person. Only after he lost his sweetheart of 67 years did one occasionally hear sadness in his voice. He was fond of telling friends that when he came to Geary at age 13 in 1911, he met Toots in the 4thgrade. He fell in love with her then and loved her always. She was dearer than life to him.
Toots was born in Geary to the Norris family and lived in Geary all her life. After their retirement. Brownie and Toots traveled with her only sister and her husband, Ray and Ann Reynolds of Denver, Colorado. Ray and Ann have been deceased for some time and Brownie was left alone after Toots died. Members of the community testify, "We all felt that we were his family and he was ours; however, we could not fill the void that was left when his beloved Toots passed on."
A 32nd degree Mason, Brownie received his 5O-year pin as a Master Mason on April 25 1h,1975. He was a past Master of the Geary Lodge No. 139. He was also a life-long member of Geary's First Christian Church.
On several occasions, Brownie expressed his loneliness for his "Toots." Well, God answered
Brownie's prayers to take him home that he might be with Toots once again. We loved him and he will surely be missed. We are sure there is beautiful music in Heaven today, as Brownie joins his voice to that celestial chorus.
This is a great part of Geary's history. It is a love story and should be cherished.
Russell Hobson Brown 'Brownie' to all who knew him. was born July 1, 1898 in Delphi,Indiana. He had three brothers - G.K. Brown. Norman Brown and A.W. Brown - all deceased. Brownie's mother was married a second time, and to that union was born three more sons - half-brothers to Brownie. They were William Atkins and J. Atkins (both deceased) and Jack Atkins who lives in Mississippi; also a half-sister, Flary Atkins Rhyne, also deceased.
Brownie lived as an orphan in his grandmother's home in Indiana for a time. After some time, he moved from Indiana to Eastern Oklahoma, and from there on to Geary.Entering grade school in Geary, Brownie found himself in a classroom where there was only one empty seat. That seat was next to a young lady named Frances Norris. To Brownie, she was "Toots". September 26, 1920, Brownie married:Toots and the couple enjoyed 67 happy years together until Totts's death on August 25, 1987.
When Toots fell ill and was hospitalized, Brownie literally talked her into fighting to live. He eventually was able to take her home and care for her many months before he finally had to give in to overseeing her care in the Geary Nursing Home.
Brownie had a special yen for things mechanical. As a young boy, he had asked the first car dealer here whether he might sweep out the garage, just so he could be around the mechanic and watch him work on the cars. Geary had seven car dealers in the community at that time. Brownie later credited that man with saving his very life. The typhoid epidemic had struck the community, and Brownie was sick with the fever. The man became concerned when Brownie failed to report for work. At that time. Brownie was living in an upstairs room. above where the bank parking lot is now. For several days, the man went to Brownie's room, spoon feeding him and nursing him back to health. Russell was always grateful to that man for his life.
He became quite a mechanic in his own right, always had a big manual for every car he owned. He studied to learn how to fix anything that needed fixing. He saw life as an on-going educational process. His house was filled with how-to books, a small library on how electricity works, how to wire, etc.
Brownie's work at the garage evolved into driving the "livery" (taxi) service. In this, he took the local doctors to the various homes around the community. He also picked up individuals at the railroad station and delivered them on to their destinations. He even took people to their out-of-state destinations - Hot Springs, Arkansas and the like. He once told us of taking three days to drive an individual to Amarillo, Texas: then returning to Geary on the train (a return trip which took only one day.) Brownie was well known for giving great service and being just a very pleasant person to be around.
Together, Brownie and his wife Frances "Toots," built their business, beginning with a newsstand in the old post office in Geary. Their expanding business created the need for a building of their own. By himself, Brownie renovated an old movie house, next door to the Coats Bakery, now the drive thru for the Peoples National Bank. Not common to the man of that era, he always was quick to give Toots' management of money as the reason they were able to purchase and renovate the store.
Being something of an entrepreneurial visionary, Brownie and Toots' building had the first fluorescent lighting installed in the City of Gary. Their establishment also had the first linoleum floor covering and a refrigerated soda fountain that had come from the bakery next door. They ran their business together except for the World War II years when Brownie would drive into Tinker Field every weekday to work.
Brownie wanted so much to be able to serve his country during the Second World War. but he was too old to be drafted; and because of a hearing impairment, he was rejected for enlistment. So. Toots kept the store open here in Geary, while Brownie worked at Tinker. This was his war effort.
Delivery trucks weren't running because of the gas shortage, so Brownie would pick up supplies for their store inventory as well as supplying the needs of many others in the community. In turn, there were those who helped him with the gas he needed for his daily trips to the City.
The Browns were good neighbors. So many Geary and remember Brownie going about his work singing or whistling throughout the day and into the night. The Brown's soda shop was the place to hang out after music and dance lessons, ball games and movies, etc., until parents came to pick up their kids.
They stayed open late some nights because parents were late. They looked out for the youth of Geary.
They had a large display of comic books and good magazines in the front window, and they seemed to not mind that the young folks came in and read the books. The Browns had no children of their own, but the youth all felt a special relationship to them. Brownie confided in me at one time that at the outset, he and Toots decided not to have children. It seemed at that time that so many women died during childbirth. •1 told Toots, I just couldn't stand to lose her like that," Brownie confided, "besides, there are just so many kids out there who needed parenting," Brownie said. "We just decided we would help be parents for them." Some who were teenagers at the time reflected, "They would have corrected us if we were doing something wrong."
Toots and Brownie were people of high ideals and standards. They were a great part of a child's life growing up in Geary. They created an atmosphere that made you want to do your best. It was expected of you and you knew they recognized you for it. All ages of people enjoyed visiting with the Browns in their place of business. We thought it terrible when the Browns sold their store and retired. It would never be the same - and it wasn't! We had been privileged to have known them and been a part of their lives.
Brownie loved to sing. He continued to sing all through his life. He sang for weddings, funerals, church services, community groups and any occasion he was asked. He had a beautiful voice and even his speaking voice was a melody. His roommate at the rest home thought Brownie was in pain as he (being hard of hearing) could hear him moan in his sleep. The man's daughter checked this out only to find Brownie was humming to himself as always.
Brownie was an UP person. Only after he lost his sweetheart of 67 years did one occasionally hear sadness in his voice. He was fond of telling friends that when he came to Geary at age 13 in 1911, he met Toots in the 4thgrade. He fell in love with her then and loved her always. She was dearer than life to him.
Toots was born in Geary to the Norris family and lived in Geary all her life. After their retirement. Brownie and Toots traveled with her only sister and her husband, Ray and Ann Reynolds of Denver, Colorado. Ray and Ann have been deceased for some time and Brownie was left alone after Toots died. Members of the community testify, "We all felt that we were his family and he was ours; however, we could not fill the void that was left when his beloved Toots passed on."
A 32nd degree Mason, Brownie received his 5O-year pin as a Master Mason on April 25 1h,1975. He was a past Master of the Geary Lodge No. 139. He was also a life-long member of Geary's First Christian Church.
On several occasions, Brownie expressed his loneliness for his "Toots." Well, God answered
Brownie's prayers to take him home that he might be with Toots once again. We loved him and he will surely be missed. We are sure there is beautiful music in Heaven today, as Brownie joins his voice to that celestial chorus.
This is a great part of Geary's history. It is a love story and should be cherished.
