Ellie Marie Brown

Ellie Marie Brown, born on February 25, 2022, to Matthew and Jenny (Parrish) Brown in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly on January 1, 2024. Though her time with us was short-lived, Ellie's vibrant spirit and exuberant personality will forever be cherished.

Ellie was a little bundle of joy who brought happiness to all who knew her. She could light up any room and melt the hearts of those around her with her infectious smile and those big gray eyes. Ellie always loved to dance, but she would get extra excited when her favorite show, Bluey, came on. Bluey provided endless moments of smiling, dancing, and entertainment daily. Ellie was full of laughter and giggles. She was constantly being silly, whether lovingly terrorizing the cat, running from mommy when it was time to change her diaper, or belly tickles. She could switch from tears to laughter instantly and always won over the hearts of those near her.

Ellie was always on the move. She liked climbing, running, practicing her balancing act, and exploring. Still, her favorite activity was going into "toy-destroy mode,” which meant emptying and exploring every toy bin when she entered her brother Henry's room. Henry and Ellie were the best of friends. She was always intrigued by his recent ninja moves, and they could spend hours playing with the bubble machine. Ellie was silly and fearless. She recently delighted in scaling the Christmas tree to steal her favorite ornaments. However, when playtime was over, Ellie found comfort in reading her favorite books and snuggling. She was persistent in her admiration for her nighttime cuddles with her daddy and story time with her momma.

Ellie brought immeasurable joy into all our lives; let us remember her smile, laughter, and snuggles. She will continue to echo within our hearts for all eternity.

Ellie is survived by her parents, Matthew and Jenny Brown; brother, Henry Brown; paternal grandparents, Jana Grika (John) and Doug Brown (Bonnie); maternal grandparents, Sharon Whitney and Ward Rhodes; great-grandmother, Judy Kennedy; aunts, Danielle Dimmel, Megan Parrish, Alex Parrish; uncles, Johnathan Dimmel, Andrew Grika, Johnny Grika, Nate Chaiprathum, Adam Chaiprathum, Josh Parrish, Travis Rhodes; and numerous cousins.

She is preceded in death by her great-grandparents, Jerry Kennedy, Edna Miller, Gladys Parrish, Sara Whitney, and Louis “Jim” Whitney.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, from 6-8pm at Living Faith Fellowship in Lee’s Summit, Mo. Her funeral service will begin at 10 am on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, with burial to follow at Valley Memorial Gardens cemetery in Grain Valley, Mo.