Barbara Brown

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Barbara Jane Brown, 85, of Charleston died Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Aug. 5, 1928, at Essex, Mo., to Arthur Bryant "Archie" Parker and Charlotte Steger Parker. She and A.S. "Alfie" Brown Jr. were married Aug. 24, 1947. He preceded her in death Sept. 14, 2001.

Barbara lived in Charleston most of her life where she had been employed as a bookkeeper and was a member of First Baptist Church.

Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Sallie and Lee Goodin of Charleston and Sheila and Ron Whaley of Alcoa, Tenn.; four grandchildren, Christopher (Amy) Whaley of Alcoa, Mandy Whaley of Tampa, Fla., Charlotte (Brian) Matthews of Cape Girardeau and Lee-Stroud (Brad) Laroche of Jacksonville, Fla.; three great-grandchildren, Jackson David Matthews, Wendy Beth Whaley and Emma-Lee Elizabeth Laroche.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Arthur Bryant "Archie" Parker Jr.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. The Rev. Gerald Penn, pastor of First Assembly of God Church in Charleston, will officiate. Interment will be in IOOF Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Christopher Whaley, Brian Matthews, Al Goodin, Matt Hollis, Charles Graham and Evin Burke.

The family requests memorials be given to The Clara Drinkwater Newnam Library, P.O. Box 160, Charleston, MO 63834.

Online condolences may be shared at mcmiklefuneralhome.com.