Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Mother recalls humorous tales about raising her children here

Audrey Calley Brown, 82, of Gurdon recalls the happy times her two children have brought her, with Mothers Day never being a time she is forgotten.

"My two kids are grown now but they visit Al and I nearly every day," the Gurdon native said. "And we realize just how lucky we are to have such loving children."

As to Mothers Day gifts she remembers, Audrey, who lives with her husband, Al, on 10th Street, said dresses, perfumes and candy are the normal things she gets.

"The big thing is they come over, stay awhile, maybe take us to dinner," she said. "Spending time with us is what counts."

Audrey Brown is the mother of Dina Lu Buck, 52, and Max Calley Brown, 47, both of Gurdon.

She has two grandchildren, Corey Brown, 22, and Derek Buck, 17. Derek will graduate Gurdon High School this year.

She said her grandsons dont forget "Nona" on Mothers Day either.

Plans are already in the works for the family to get together this Mothers Day, Sunday, May 14.

Growing up

Audrey said her children were very different growing up, as Dinah Lu, who is now a worker at Thomersons Drug Store, was very reserved and Max, who is now an insurance agent, "never met a stranger."

"Ill share a story or two on each that stands out in my mind," she said.

"When Dinah Lu was 5 or 6 years old, I sent her across the way to give a neighbor a jar of jelly. I was watching from the window and literally bent over with laughter. My little girl would stop, mouth what she was going to say to the neighbor and then thrust the jelly jar forward  practicing every few steps until she finally got to the neighbors door."

Audrey thought a moment and came up with a second one about her daughter involving hair.

"She would get so picky about the way I fixed her hair and then just rub her head and the hair would fly everywhere," Audrey said. "But Dinah Lu was a model teenager and did not give us any trouble. Of course, I was strict."

Max

Audrey said she recognized Maxs curiosity and outgoing ways when he was about three.

"Roy and Hazel Brown were our neighbors when we lived at 603 Main Street and here they came to my yard, letting me know Max was up a tree!" she said. "Sure enough, Max at three was way up in some tree branches. I told him to hold onto the tree and scoot down. Then I held my arms out and my son jumped into them."

Audrey thought a minute and then decided to comment on Max as a teenager. She said her son was ready to move out with his friends at 16.

"I talked it over with him one day while he was on the livingroom coach. I let him know if he moved not to come to me for meals and not to bring me any dirty clothes. His facial expression changed and I never heard anymore about him moving out early."

Al Brown, their father, is a retired body shop man and a World War II Army veteran.

Al and Audrey are both 1941 Gurdon High School graduates.

Audrey was a practicing registered nurse until her children were born and then she quit to raise Dinah Lu and Max full-time.

"I kept them in Assembly of God church and actively taught them about having good friends and staying out of trouble," she said. "To be honest with you, they both give us peace of mind and that is a very valuable thing for a parent to have from children."

The Browns married after Al got back from the service. It was on July 24, 1949, nearly 57 years ago.