Essie Brotherton

Essie Lucille Brotherton, 87, of Jackson passed away Wednesday, May 20, 2020, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

She was born March 15, 1933, in Neelys Landing, the fifth and youngest child of John A. and Oza Ann Craft Littleton. She and Oscar Rosolee "Lee" Brotherton were married Dec. 11, 1953, They had been married 59 years when he passed away Sept. 22, 2013.

Essie attended school near Neelys Landing. In 1951, she started work at International Shoe factory in Jackson, retiring in 1970 to stay home and give her all to finish raising her children and help raise her grandchildren. Before Lee passed away, they would plant a large garden every year, go to garage sales and auctions. They attended Apostolic Promise Church in Cape Girardeau. Some of their favorite pastimes were spent watching RFD-TV's "The Polka." Essie and Lee also enjoyed ice cream from Dairy Queen and people watching at Walmart.

Loving survivors include children, Dianna (Tom) Hale, Vicki (Ted) Holzum, Kim (Ken) Brown and Carol Jo (Jason) Roberts, all of Jackson; and grandchildren, Chris (Nicole) Brown, Shelly (Ben) Meier, Victoria (Derrick) Medlock, Robert (Amanda) Holzum, Brittney (David) Peters, Cassie (Floyd) Varela and Wesley Conner Roberts. Also surviving are 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Essie was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Brotherton; parents; siblings, AnnaBelle (Joe) Minton, Lena (Clyde) Farrow, Leon (Imogene) Littleton and Earliss Littleton; and in-laws, John F. and Nola E. Reagan Brotherton

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. Everyone is welcome. Guests are simply advised to practice social distancing and extend condolences through non-physical contact.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Wiley Kaufman officiating. Interment will follow in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Apostolic Promise Church in Cape Girardeau.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting Essie's personal obituary page at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.