Rita June Brown, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, mentor, and one-of-a-kind entrepreneur, passed away on September 21, 2026, at the age of 85.

Rita was born on July 14, 1941, in Fullerton, California, to Ralph and Sybil Ring. A native of Southern California, Rita grew up with an energetic spirit, a natural love for performing, and an entrepreneurial heart that would remain with her throughout her life.

In 1957, Rita was crowned Miss Anaheim Centennial and also had the opportunity to twirl for the Los Angeles Rams football team. It was during this time that she met the love of her life, Hulet "Brownie" Brown, on a blind date. The two fell in love and were married in Las Vegas in December 1959. Together, Rita and Brownie shared 52 wonderful years of marriage, building a family, businesses, friendships, and countless memories along the way.

Rita was an entrepreneur long before the word became popular. While still in high school, she began teaching baton twirling from her parents' front yard. When she was told she needed to find another location, Rita simply moved her lessons to a neighborhood park. That determination and creativity became a defining part of her life.

After marrying Brownie, the two built a large baton and drum corps together called the Rangerettes. While raising her children, Rita taught baton twirling many evenings and weekends, often practicing marching routines on school football fields alongside her partner in crime, Brownie. The Rangerettes performed in competitions and local parades and became an important part of the lives of many young people.

In 1974, Rita and Brownie moved their family from California to Oklahoma to raise their children. In Idabel, Rita continued pursuing her passion for teaching and inspiring young people by creating another baton and drum corps called the Kiamichettes.

After her baton twirling years, Rita began putting on pageants throughout the surrounding areas through a youth development system called American Youth Showcase. With the support of Brownie, her daughter Deb, and Melanie, Rita grew American Youth Showcase into a wonderful organization that continued for more than 20 years.

For Rita, these pageants were never simply about crowns, trophies, or competition. She believed in building confidence, sharing knowledge, encouraging young people, and helping them discover what they were capable of becoming. She had a special gift for making her "pageant kids" feel important and believed in them every step of the way.

Rita's passion was always to share her knowledge, confidence, and charisma with the young people she worked with. Through her many years of baton twirling and pageantry, she touched the lives of countless children, teenagers, and families. Many of those young people carried the confidence and lessons she gave them into adulthood.

Rita loved her family deeply and treasured the memories they made together. She especially loved Christmas with her family and took great pride in cooking for them. Her children's birthdays were always special, no matter how old her children became, because Rita was determined that there would always be a special birthday cake.

And then there was ice cream.

Rita had a special love for Braum's ice cream, and whenever the opportunity arose, she loved sharing a bowl or cone with her children and grandchildren. Those simple moments of family, conversation, laughter, and ice cream became some of the sweetest memories she left behind.

Rita was blessed with many family members whom she loved dearly, as well as close friends whom she treasured throughout her life. She made meaningful memories with so many people, and her circle of love extended far beyond her immediate family. Those who knew Rita will remember her energy, charisma, determination, generosity, and her ability to make people feel like they belonged.

Rita is survived by her children, Gary Lee Brown and his wife, LaGena Brown; Deborah Anne Moore (Brown) and her husband, Mike Moore; and Melanie Denise Payne (Brown) and her husband, Mitchell Payne. She was preceded in death by her son, Darrell Scott Brown.

Rita leaves behind eight beloved grandchildren: Amy Brown Graham and her husband, Shane Graham; Tonya Brown Cellers and her husband, Scott Cellers; Baylee Brown Looper and her husband, Ryan Looper; Chelsie Embrey and her husband, Steven Embrey; Darrell Brown, Jr. (DJ); Brooke Brown; McKinlee Payne Harman and her husband, Dylan Harman; and McKazlyn Payne.

She was also a loving great-grandmother to Brooke Brown, Cason Brown, Everett Cellers, Luke Looper, Genevieve Looper, Kayce Waylon Looper, Ciya June Embrey, Ethan Embrey, Christian Embrey, Baker Hulet Embrey, Izaih Chambers and Ollie Payne.

Rita was preceded in death by her grandmother, Mattie Brown; her parents, Ralph and Sybil Ring; the love of her life, Hulet "Brownie" Brown; her son, Darrell Scott Brown; and her grandsons, Tyler Scott Brown and Ross London Chambers.

For everyone who had the privilege of knowing Rita during her 85 years, her passing leaves an enormous space in their hearts. She was truly one of a kind. She was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mentor, entrepreneur, teacher, friend, pageant director, baton instructor, and so much more. Most importantly, she was someone who believed in people and spent her life helping others believe in themselves.

Rita was deeply loved by her family, and she will be missed more than words can express. Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and countless friends will forever treasure the memories they made with her-the laughter, the celebrations, the Christmas traditions, the birthday cakes, the pageants, the baton twirling, and those special trips for ice cream at Braum's.

Her family finds comfort in knowing that the love Rita gave so freely throughout her life will continue through the generations she leaves behind. Her influence can be seen in the lives of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and in the many young people she encouraged and inspired throughout her remarkable life.

Rita's life was full of love, determination, laughter, hard work, family, and a whole lot of sparkle. She was deeply loved, truly cherished, and will be missed every single day. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know and love her.

Our hearts are broken by her loss, but we are grateful for the beautiful 85 years we were blessed to share with her. We will carry her love, her lessons, and her memories with us forever.

Rita June Brown - a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. One of a kind. Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever in our hearts.

Viewing will be 4PM - 6PM, Sunday, September 27, 2026 at Moore's Southlawn, 9350 East 51st Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Service will be 1PM, Monday, September 28, 2026 at Moore's Southlawn Chapel.