Cleora Brown

May 5, 1941 – August 14, 2025

Cleora Brown (Cleo), a resident of Estates of St. Louis Park, MN, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 14, 2025, while in Hospice Care.

Cleo was born on May 5, 1941, to her father Cleveland Brown and her mother Catherine in Arkansas. After the couple divorced, at the age of 6, Cleo and her sister moved with their father to South Bend, Indiana, where he remarried and raised them with her stepmother, Mary Brown. As the eldest of thirteen siblings, Cleo often took on a nurturing role from a young age.

Upon graduating from high school in South Bend, Cleo moved to Chicago, Illinois and obtained her Nursing Degree, dedicating several years to serving as a nurse. In 1969, Cleo relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she continued her career in nursing. Her dedication to caring for others naturally led her to a new calling—teaching special education at Emerson Public School in the early 1970s. Cleo’s compassion and commitment seamlessly transitioned from healthcare to the classroom, where she supported children with diverse needs until the early 1980s.

Her passion for helping families, especially mothers and young children, inspired her advocacy for families of color. Cleo took on the role of Director at Way to Grow, joining a talented team of Family Educators who provided year-round services to families and their communities. The organization supported families with children from birth to age eight, reflecting Cleo’s lifelong commitment to early childhood development and education.

Cleora spent the remainder of her career working for The Healthy Start (HS) program, striving to improve health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy. She played an instrumental role in tailoring local HS projects to meet the needs of the community, helping reduce disparities in infant mortality and maternal health so that all mothers and babies could thrive.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Charles Brown; her father Cleveland (Mary) Brown; her mother, Catherine Brown; her daughter Carmen Elaine Brown; her sister Gertrude McCray; and her brothers Cleveland (Doris) Brown, Clarence Brown, and Eddie (Zutie) Brown.

She is survived by:

· Six brothers: Will Brown, Johnny (Michelle) Brown, Levester (Karen) Brown, Clayton (Lisa) Brown, Christopher (Kathy) Brown, and Jessie (Robin) Brown

· Two sisters: Vera (Robert) Guest and Joyce (Maurice) Griffin

· Two adopted daughters: Sovaline Brown and Josephine Brown

· One granddaughter: Cleora Desiree Brown

· Three great-grandchildren

Cleo was a longstanding member of The Elks Lodge, where she held positions such as Daughter Ruler and other executive roles. Bowling was one of her favorite activities for many years, and Cleo’s love for cooking inspired her to open her own restaurant, Cleo’s Kitchen, above the Elks Lodge in North Minneapolis. Friends recall how Cleo’s laughter would fill the kitchen at Cleo’s Kitchen, making everyone feel at home and welcomed. Her generosity extended beyond her family and friends—Cleora fostered many children with special needs and developmental disabilities, leaving a lasting impact on countless lives.

Memorial Services

September 20, 2025

Visitation 10:00 am. Services 11:00 am.

Cremation Society of Minnesota

(Brooklyn Park Chapel)

7835 Brooklyn Boulevard

Brooklyn Park, MN 55445

Long lasting she suffered, her mind did roam

This world was a blur, her loved ones and home.

Although she drifted far away

She fought the fight and tried to stay

God saw her fight and do her best

Good work my child, it’s time to rest.

The Brown Family would like to thank family, friends, and caregivers for their love and support.