Connie M (Marling) Brown

Connie M. (Marling) Brown , 83, of Elyria Ohio died Dec 23rd, 2015 at her daughter’s home in New Palestine, Indiana. She was born January 6th 1932 in Bellaire, Ohio, daughter of the late Margaret J. Marling and Gilbert Marling. Connie was a lifelong educator and advocate for children. A 1949 graduate of Bellaire High School, she received her Bachelors of Science in education from The Ohio State University in 1953, followed by a Master’s Degree in Education from Kent State University and a 6 year education specialist degree also from Kent State University. Connie worked as a physical education teacher, 6th grade classroom teacher, cadet principal, assistant principal and principal. Connie retired in 1990, as the principal of Franklin Elementary School. During her years of retirement, she ran her own business, Connie’s Storks and Stuff, providing balloons, costumed characters, and yard signs for children and adults. Connie was also an advocate for abused and neglected children, in the Lorain County Juvenile Court System, as a volunteer with Voices for Children.

Connie was preceded in death by her former husband Dr. William R. Brown and both parents Margaret and Gilbert Marling. Surviving are two children; Mark (Gail) Brown of Elyria, Jodi (Ali) Basaran of New Palestine; sister Marilyn (Bob) Kopyar of Bellaire; brothers Richard (Shirley) Marling of Dublin and Gilbert ( Beth) Marling of Lorain; nine grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on January 16th in the chapel of the Elyria First United Methodist Church, located on 312 Third St. Elyria, Ohio at 3:00 pm.

A grave site service for her family will be held at her final resting place at the New Greenwood Cemetery in Bellaire, Ohio at 1:00 p.m. on January 17th.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lorain County Voices for Children at www.vfclc.org

Arrangements handled by Bell Mortuary & Crematory, Shangrila Chapel, Fountaintown, IN.

Online condolences at www.bellmortuary.com