Victoria Brown

Victoria Rose Brown, age 75 years, formerly of Niles, Michigan, mother, grandmother, sister, outdoorswoman, woodworker, and egg and bonsai artist died peacefully on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia following an extended illness.

She was born on February 23, 1945 in Niles to Robert L. Repine and Clara Stewart.  She was graduated from Niles High School, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Southwestern Michigan College.  She was employed for many years as a teacher for special needs students in the Brandywine Community Schools in Niles.  She was also formerly employed in the manufacturing plant at Astar, Inc. in South Bend, Indiana.  She lived in Niles until 1998 when she moved to Albany.

In Niles, Vicki enjoyed hunting a wide variety of game including squirrel, rabbit, and turkey, and fishing in area lakes and rivers.  She was an artist, practicing in both ceramics and egg painting in the style of Fabergé.  She also created pieces from wood in her shop, and practiced the Japanese art of Bonsai, cultivating trees in small pots to mimic the shape of full size trees.  She was a member of the Albany Bonsai Club.

She was sadly preceded just two weeks ago by the accidental death of a 17-year-old great-grandson, Samuel Gonzales; and was also preceded in death by her parents, Clara (& Guy, Jr.) Kizer and Robert Repine; and a brother, Stanley Kizer.

Surviving family includes her children, Charles Repine of Niles, twins Robert (& Angela) Brown of Baerryville, Arkansas and Robin (& Mike) Flannery of Niles, and Ronda Brown of Niles; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and by a very special friend and companion, Paula Knight of Albany.

The funeral service for Victoria Brown will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 8, 2021 at the Michiana Christian Embassy, 1922 East Main Street in Niles with the Rev. Jeffrey Whittaker of the church officiating.  Committal will follow at Mission Hills.  Attendance will be limited, masks required, and social distancing practiced.  Others may witness the service via the livestreamed broadcast on the Halbritter-Wickens Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/halbritterwickensfuneralservices/.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles.  Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Vicki enjoyed life, and used it well to care for special students, spend time outside in nature, and studying creation to find the beauty in eggs, woodgrain, and miniature trees.  But her greatest joy was loving those closest to her.