Derry Brownfield

Derry Brownfield, 79, of Centertown, Mo., passed peacefully Saturday, March 12, 2011, at home and went to be with our Savior, Jesus Christ. He was born on January 24, 1932, in Boonville, Mo., the son of George Derry Brownfield and Georgia Stegner Brownfield, both of whom preceded him in death. He was married on June 24, 1956, in California, Mo. to Verni Dine (Gross) Brownfield, who survives of the home. Derry grew up during the Depression. He started farming when he was 16 years old and received the Future Farmers of America State Farmer degree in 1949. Since that time the Brownfield Farm has grown to over 1100 acres. Derry attended the College of Agriculture at the University of Missouri where he received his B.S. and M.S. degrees. He taught vocational agriculture several years at Pilot Grove and Jamestown before becoming a marketing specialist with the Missouri Department of Agriculture. He served as Director of the Kansas City Livestock Market Foundation at the Kansas City Stockyard prior to establishing himself in farm broadcasting. In 1972, he and his partner established the Brownfield Network, which served 250 radio stations throughout the Midwest with farm news and market information. Derry prided himself in "speaking as a farmer, to the farmer, for the farmer, from the farm." In 1994, he started his own syndicated radio talk show, and was one of the most popular radio talk show hosts in America. The Derry Brownfield Show, "The Common Sense Coalition," could be heard on radio stations across the nation, along with a large audience of shortwave and Internet listeners. With his entertaining sense of humor and witty commentary he captured audiences for over 40 years. In addition to his wife, survivors include one daughter; three sons and five grandchildren: Joy Brownfield and husband Gene Deckard of Centertown; Jay Brownfield, wife Cheryl and daughters Jan and Katelin of Asheboro, N.C.; Jon Brownfield, wife Karen, daughter Morgan and son Jon Jr. of Rock Hill, S.C.; and Jim Brownfield, wife Rhonda and daughter Tiffany of Centertown. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 16, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at California United Church of Christ, California, Mo. Burial will be in California Masonic Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 15, 2011, from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services, California, Mo. Memorials are suggested to the Gideon's International, c/o Derry Brownfield, P.O. Box 79, Centertown, MO 65023. Arrangements are under the direction of Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services, California, Mo.