M. Gala Brown

Mary “Gala” (McGinley) Brown, 88, of Colby, KS, died Thursday January 20, 2022, at Citizens Medical Center in Colby. She was born August 19, 1933, in Ogden, KS. Her parents were Bill and Esther (Thompson) McGinley. Gala was raised in Levant, KS where she met Dearld Brown while going to school. The two were inseparable and got married May 12, 1950, in Levant, KS. This union produced four children: Bill, Bob, Judy, and Janice. They moved to Colby, KS in 1966, where Gala ran the bakery for Larry’s IGA for many years. In her later years she enjoyed being retired with Derald, fishing, camping, and taking cruises with her husband and sister, and of course, being a grandma. When her grandchildren visited, she loved going for walks, playing cards, baking and loved family barbeques.

Gala was preceded in death by her parents; her twin brother, Gaylord McGinley; sister, Jackie (Brown) Jensen; her husband, Derald Brown; son-in-law, Tab Stupka; daughter-in-law, Maureen (Watkins) Brown; two granddaughters, Kelly (Brown) Box and Mindy (Gilbert) Fryback; and great-grandchild, James Guay.

Her survivors include children, Bill Brown of Weskan, KS; Bob (Lisa) Brown of Kearney, MO; Judy (Gordon) Gilbert of Colby, KS and Janice (Tommy) Hanavan of Colby, KS; sister, Kathryn Simpson of Pueblo, CO; 9 grandchildren, Shayne (Bailey) Stupka, Shilo Stupka and Shastina (Trevor) Crane, all of Colby, KS, Chris (Karen) Brown of Wallace, KS, Rodney Box of Sharon Springs, KS, Bailey (Scott) McCoy of Kearney, MO, Carl Gilbert of Kansas City, MO, Bobby (Whitney) Gilbert of Abilene, KS, and Jeff Fryback of Colby, KS; 17 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A Memorial Service will take place at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby. Memorials may be made to the M. Gala Brown Memorial Fund and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com