Anne Katherine Brown

Anne Katherine Brown, 85, peacefully departed her earthly home on 9/11/2026, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of love, friendship, service, and compassion. Though tiny in stature, she was truly mighty in her influence, touching the lives of countless family members, friends, and all who had the good fortune to know her.

She was preceded in death by Lloyd Brown, her loving and devoted husband of 34 years; her parents, Chester Barnett and Jessie Porter; her brother, Charles “Chuckie” Barnett; and 2 of her beloved service dogs, Libby and Saxon.

Anne is survived by her stepchildren Don Brown (Lynn), Sandy Kleinknecht (Bob), and Dave Brown (Janice), her brother, Elwyn L. Jordan II (Robin), her sister-in-law, Gloria Barnett: 6 grandchildren, Rob Kleinknecht (Lizz), Mike Kleinknecht ( Melissa), Katie Kleinknecht (Emily), Olivia Brown, Amanda Brown, Megan Brown; 3 great-grandchildren, Mia, Jace, and Adelyn; 5 nieces and nephews, Oliver Barnette (Jenny), Lisa Woodman (Keith), Becky Hartle (Matthew), Zachary Jordan (Kasie), Chloe Jordan (and husband Scott Crowder), and 8 great-nieces and nephews, Jordan, Ethan, Kailey, Lila, Kurtis, Jake, Aubrey and Zoey. And last, but certainly not least, Anne is survived by Bekker, her beloved service dog, devoted companion, and cherished member of her family and the Freedom Plaza family.

A devoted wife, Anne, shared 34 wonderful years of marriage with Lloyd. Most of her early life, including where she met Lloyd, was spent in the Cleveland, Ohio, area before eventually making Florida their retirement home. Wherever Anne lived, she built a large and loving community of family and friends who knew her for her warmth, humor, generosity, and unmistakable personality.

Her family and friends were at the center of her heart, as were her three beloved service dogs—Libby, Saxon, and Bekker. They were not simply her companions; they were treasured members of her family and an important part of her life. Anne was always a kid at heart, which made spending time with her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews something she cherished deeply. She had a wonderful ability to connect with them, share in their fun, and see the world with a sense of joy and playfulness.

Anne led a fascinating and varied life. Her career in antiques reflected her appreciation for history, beautiful objects, and the stories they carry. That same eye for beauty extended to her home, where she was an exceptional hostess. She created beautifully and elegantly decorated spaces that were warm, welcoming, and always ready for family and friends to gather and make memories. She had a gift for making people feel at home—and making every visit to her home feel special. There was just one small catch: don't ask Anne to cook. Her favorite thing for dinner was reservations! She much preferred enjoying a wonderful meal and good company to spending time in the kitchen.

Anne also had a wonderful collection of memories from her younger years, including modeling at Higbee’s department store in Cleveland and some unforgettable brushes with the entertainment and sports worlds. Among her treasured photographs are memories of meeting country music legend Glen Campbell and being on the set at Cleveland Browns Stadium during the filming of The Fortune Cookie, alongside Cleveland Browns great Lou Groza, actor Jack Lemmon, and director Billy Wilder.

Anne had an enormous heart for serving others that extended well beyond her family and friends. For more than 20 years, Anne volunteered with Dogs Inc., formerly Southeastern Guide Dogs, an organization that held a deeply meaningful place in her heart. Her own life experiences and journey with PTSD gave her a profound understanding of the comfort, independence, and companionship that a service dog can provide. A top fundraiser, Anne raised enough money to sponsor multiple dogs and attended their graduation and pairing ceremonies where the dogs were matched with their new handlers, many of whom were veterans living with PTSD. She devoted herself wholeheartedly to supporting the organization and its mission, and in 2012 she was honored as Volunteer of the Year. Her love of dogs and her desire to make a difference reached even further. She also volunteered with the local school system, bringing her dogs to schools where they served as reading buddies for children. In Anne's hands, the dogs became more than companions—they became sources of confidence, comfort, encouragement, and connection.

Anne will be deeply missed and remembered most for her generosity and the joy she brought into the lives of others. Her beautiful smile could light up a room, and her laughter was contagious. She had a rare gift for making everyone around her feel special, welcomed, and deeply loved. Whether sharing a story, enjoying a laugh, or simply being together, Anne had a way of making each person feel that they mattered. That warmth and love will remain in the hearts of all who loved her and called her family or friend.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the entire team at Freedom Plaza, Plaza West, and Homewood for the exceptional care, compassion, kindness, and love they showed to Anne, particularly during her hospice journey, where they went out of their way to support the entire family and her beloved service dog, Bekker. We are also deeply grateful to Lifepath Hospice for their support and guidance during Anne’s final days. The care and comfort provided by both teams brought peace to Anne and comfort to all of us who loved her.

A Celebration of Life honoring Anne will be held at Freedom Plaza, 1010 American Eagle Blvd, Sun City Center, FL 33573 on September 28, 2026, at 1 pm. Family and friends are invited to come together as we celebrate a life well lived. A private interment will be held at a later date at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens, Chesterland, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests that memorial donations be made in Anne’s honor to Dogs Inc., formerly Southeastern Guide Dogs. Donations may be made at https://dogsinc.org/ways-to-give/.