Darlene June (Hayden) Brown

Darlene June (Hayden) Brown, age 79, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, December 16, 2016. Darlene was born June 24, 1937, in Mexico, Missouri, daughter of Virgil Alvin and Eula Lee (Million) Hayden. She lived in Mexico, Mo., Centralia, Mo., Jefferson City, Mo., Columbia, Mo. and Bradenton, Fla. Darlene shared her interest and talents working to create the Centralia Public Library. Darlene was an avid reader and hoped to pass her love for books to the citizens of Centralia. She was active in many civic organizations including PTA, Jaycee Wives, The Lioness, March of Dimes and devoted countless hours to her church homes. She served as Church Board Member, Youth Group Leader and Wedding Coordinator for many years. She shared her soprano voice for many years singing in the Chancel Choir. Darlene was also a proud member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Descendants of the Mayflower. During her career, she proudly worked for A.B. Chance Company in Centralia. After her move to Jefferson City, Mo., she worked in the communications division at Troop F of the Missouri Highway Patrol. She left the patrol and became a working partner with her husband at Brown Printing and Publishing. Most of all Darlene's life is one of giving and teaching her family to love unconditionally. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, E. Ray Brown of Bradenton, Fla.; son, Daniel Ray (Kim); daughters, Becky Gay Meeker (Greg) and Leah Jo Tibbs (David); six grandchildren, Amanda (A.J.) Shondy, Benjamin (Ivy) Brown, Steve Howard, Kyle (Diana) Meeker, Bryan Meeker (Ciarra), Nathan Tibbs, Emily Tibbs and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Alvin Eugene, Charles Harold and Robert Dean Hayden. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Olivet Christian Church, 1991 S. Olivet Rd., Columbia, MO on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. A Memorial Service was held December 20, 2016, in Bradenton, Fla. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be made to Olivet Christian Church.