Friend Edith Farley Brown
Edith Farley Brown, 82, on February 17, 2004, in the Carlisle Regional Medical Center, Carlisle, Pa. She was born on August 29, 1921, in Norristown, Pa., the daughter of Edith (Young) Farley and Walter S. Farley, a farmer who had been a major in the Marines in the South Pacific. Because Walter wanted his children to receive a Quaker education, Edith attended Middletown Meeting in Langhorne and graduated from George School in 1939. For one year she attended Earlham College on a work-study scholarship, and then received a full scholarship to University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a master’s degree in Education. During World War II, she worked in Philadelphia mental hospitals, where she met a conscientious objector named Francis A. Brown. After their marriage in 1945, Edith was employed as a social worker while Frank taught wood shop at George School. She went on to teach in New Jersey and later became a reading and elementary education teacher in the Harrisburg School District. Their growing family belonged to Edith’s home monthly meeting of Middletown, transferred to Media Meeting, then Doylestown and Harrisburg meetings. Before their retirement, Edith and Frank transferred their membership to Carlisle Meeting, and after retirement, they lived in Elliotsburg where Edith was a founding member of the Perry County Friends Worship Group. An outspoken advocate for Friends concerns, she taught First-day school, served as a Bucks County Girl Scout leader, and was involved in peace and justice projects, especially issues concerning the plight of Native American youth and feeding the hungry. Her children have fond memories of hours spent with their music-loving parents; Edith at the piano, and Frank singing. Edith was predeceased by her husband, Francis A. Brown, in April 2001. She is survived by her children, Timothy F. Brown, Thomas A. Brown, Deborah B. Hammack, and Pamela B. Gibney; eight granddaughters; her brother, Walter S. Farley, Jr.; two sisters, Sara Gray, and Helen Michaelian; nine nieces, and one nephew.
