Hilda Brown

CHAFFEE, Mo. — Hilda Frances Brown, 97, of Chaffee died Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, at Saint Francis Medical Center after a brief bout with the flu. She was a resident of Chaffee Nursing Center.

Hilda Brown

Hilda was born Feb. 24, 1925, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to Simon Darwin and Rada Barnes Brown.

Hilda is survived by many loving friends, including the staff of Chaffee Nursing Center; cousins, Danny and Evelyn Sturkie of Paragould, Arkansas, and Barbara Clark of Scott City; and babysitting proteges, Tracie (J.B.) McClard and Heraleen (Bryan) Bowers. Hilda was also an adopted grandmother to Adam and Bella Bowers.

Hilda's mother preceded her in death in 1941 and her father in 1960. Hilda's father was a railroader from Galatia, Illinois. Her mother was a cook on the boarding cars, which is where they met. The family moved for her father's job first to Pine Bluff and then to Scott City in 1939.

Hilda's work centered around caring for others. She was a certified nurse's aide and worked at Heartland Nursing Home. She did babysitting and live-in elder care. One of her former wards, Heraleen (Sprenger) Bowers, thought Hilda invented peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Even after she learned Hilda wasn't the first to make them, she still thought Hilda's were the best. Ever the guardian angel, Hilda kept a watchful eye on the neighborhood kids of Olive Street in old Illmo and helped keep the brawls in check.

Hilda's hobbies included embroidery and piano playing. She was of the Christian faith and a member of the Church of Christ during her years in Scott City. From Olive Street, she moved into the Illmo housing project during the 1990s and then to Chaffee Nursing Center in 2015, where she was treasured as "one of the sweetest ladies we've ever met," according to one staff member.

Friends may call from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the funeral home. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 at Linwood Cemetery in Paragould.

Online condolences may be shared at www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.