Phyliss E. Brown

Phyliss Eunice Brown (nee Shovers), formerly of Racine, Wisconsin and Skokie, Illinois, died peacefully at the age of 97, on Nov. 9, 2025, at her home in Tucson, Arizona.

Phyliss was born in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, in December,1927 and moved to Racine as a young girl. She graduated from Horlick High School and worked in her parents’ five-and-dime store before completing a year of study at UW Madison. She worked as a secretary at Bell and Howell until she was married.

Phyliss was a devoted wife and partner to Jerome "Jerry" Brown for more than 50 years. She was known to all as a wonderful conversationalist and she treasured opportunities to talk with her beloved husband, relatives and many friends, always welcoming opportunities to discuss books, politics, movies, and countless other topics. Phyliss was avidly interested in all activities of her large extended family, and her children always commented on how quickly she made others feel comfortable and befriended.

Phyliss enjoyed her work as a talented and popular volunteer for many organizations such as the Racine Jewish Congregation where she was an active Sisterhood member, served as their president, and she assumed many leadership positions in Hadassah local and international, making her children life members. She was an expert bridge player and loved attending classes and events at Oakton Community College and beyond.

Her daughter Sally recalls that while living in Israel, her mother regularly sent entertaining, detailed letters of all the news about family and local happenings. Tom recalled how his mother had a legendary green thumb, and her children would at times feel bad if the plants she gave out didn’t thrive in their own homes. They fondly remember how she showed love and interest in the lives of her beloved grand and great grandchildren. Priscilla recounted how quick her mother was to live life with joyous laughter as she interacted with loved ones.

As matriarch of the Goldin/Shovers family, Phyliss will be deeply missed by her children Sally Jo Brown-Winter (Jeffrey), Tom Brown (Dana), and Priscilla Brown. She will also be greatly missed by her younger brother Alan Shovers (Susan), her five grandchildren: Joshua (Elizabeth) Sharon (Adam), Diana, Joe (Inna) and Daniel and her beloved great-grandchildren: Tehilla (Yehuda), Yaakov, Shlomo, Miri, Shani, Asher, Miles and Owen and a great-great granddaughter, Sara, along with many nieces and nephews. Phyliss and Jerry deeply mourned the untimely loss of their oldest daughter, Diane, during childhood, but with much support they found strength to carry forward.

Graveside services will be held at the Racine Jewish Memorial Cemetery, 612 Lathrop Avenue, Racine, WI 53405, Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 11 am with Rabbi Jeffrey Weill officiating.

Donations in her memory would be greatly appreciated to the charity of your choice or: Mazon https://give.mazon.org/give/466743/#!/donation/checkout and Hadassah https://www.hadassah.org/donate