Jackie Lou (Clapper) Brown, 93, of Lafayette, passed away Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Indiana University Arnett Hospital.

Jackie was born December 22, 1930, in Portland, Indiana to the late Wilbur “Jack” & Lucille (Bennett) Clapper.  Jackie was a graduate of Roosevelt High School in Monticello.  She would later attend DePauw University and graduate from Ball State University with her Bachelors of Education.  Jackie would go on to earn her Masters in Education from Butler University.

Her marriage was to Carl M. Brown on June 27,1954 at the historic First Congregational Church in Danbury, CT.  The couple would share many wonderful memories over their 67 years of marriage.  They enjoyed spending time at their home on Lake Freeman and traveling to new locations across the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia.  They enjoyed looking for hidden treasures at estate auctions, collecting art by Indiana artists and wandering the galleries of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.  Jackie and Carl loved spending time supporting their grandchildren at their sporting events while at Harrison High School and Clemson University Football.  They always looked forward to cheering on their great-grandchildren at McCutcheon High School volleyball and football games and 10U-club softball in South Carolina.  

Jackie began her teaching career in Croton Fall, NY as a music teacher.  She would eventually move to Indianapolis, teaching Kindergarten in Indianapolis Public Schools.  In 1970, she and Carl moved to Lafayette, where she taught 3rd Grade at Miami School for 35 years. She took great joy teaching her students.

Carl preceded her in death on May 13, 2021; brothers Tom Clapper, Jim Clapper and sister-in-law Nancy Clapper.   Surviving are her children, Julie Leonard and Jack Brown (Jeannine); grandchildren, Dylan Leonard, Colin Leonard (Lindsey), Drew Brown (Bailey) and Faith Barisas (Joey); her great-grandchildren, Mia Leonard, Mylee Leonard, Mak Leonard, Emerson Leonard and Bernadette Claire Barisas.  Also surviving are her nieces, Kelley Clapper Randolph (Chris), Ann Clapper Hogan (Roger) and nephews, Marc Clapper (Brenda), Jeff Clapper, Steve Clapper; cousins,  John Huddle (Shirley) and Rex Brown.

Jackie leaves us her strength of character, tremendous capacity to love and unquestionable integrity as a living legacy.

Private interment is planned next to her husband, Carl, at Riverview Cemetery of Monticello.