Mary Ann was born in Fort Worth, Texas, an only child to Henrietta (Hennie) Mary Davis Brown (mother), Charles Seaton Davis (father), and Lee Ross Brown (stepfather). Mary Ann grew up in Houston and Dallas before earning her bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Texas at Austin in 1965. She was married to Minor Wilson for a few years after her graduation, and enjoyed a life-long relationship with her in-laws Katherine and Burton Wilson. Mary Ann was involved in the music scene in Austin and San Francisco, then started graduate school in public affairs at the University of Oregon in 1968. Mary Ann followed a work opportunity in London, England, then went on to live and travel extensively throughout Morocco and Spain from 1969 until 1973. In Fez, Morocco, she worked as program planner at the USAID cultural center and published a student creative-writing magazine. After returning to the US, Mary Ann finished her master’s degree in International Studies at Florida International University. She worked in public relations and advertising for several companies, first in Jacksonville and then with Hank Meyer Associates in Miami. She served there on the board of the Tropical Audubon Society (TAS) and worked in public relations and publications for the Historical Museum of Southern Florida (now History Miami) and as an adjunct professor in public relations at Florida Atlantic University. After retiring to Austin, TX, in 2005, Mary Ann continued with her interests in the Audubon Society (TAS), the Texas States Button Society (TSBS) and the National Button Society (NBS), often helping with public relations.

A lover of books, music, adventures, birds, art and antiques, Mary Ann found beauty and good humor in life’s simple moments and encouraged us all to do the same. Mary Ann is deeply missed by her many friends from all the places she lived.

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