Willadene Brown

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Willadene Kniseley Brown, of Carbondale and formerly of Jonesboro, Ill., passed away in Memorial Hospital of Carbondale on Friday, Dec. 2, 2005.

She was born Feb. 8, 1919, the daughter of Leroy and Ethel Fyke Kniseley. Willadene was united in marriage to Joseph L. Brown on May 25, 1941, in Centralia, Ill. Joseph Brown preceded her in death on Oct. 24, 1982. She was also preceded in death by a son, Ronald Lee Brown.

In her lifetime she was a member of many organizations and local clubs, including Delta Kappa Gamma, Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, Phi Delta Kappa, the international Friend's Club, the Carbondale Antique Club and had been an ardent supporter of SIU programs in the arts. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Carbondale.

Willadene's love of family and enjoyment of the world led her into pursuing an active career in education. She began as a media specialist in Vienna High School, then working for Shawnee Community Unit District. She taught classes at SIU-C, continuing as an educational consultant for the state board of education, retiring in 1992. Concurrently she was involved from the beginning of a served as a tour guide for Presley Tours, authoring a biography of Wayman Presley, "You Never Know Until You Try."

While with the state board of education she initiated the In Gear program, which has engaged international students from SIU with local public elementary through community colleges since 1986. This program has encouraged the people of Southern Illinois to "have a clearer vision of other lands and other ways of life." Her work with international students and programs has continued over the years.

As longtime friend Haruo Kawai wrote upon news of her passing: "Her hospitality and cheerfulness made me feel comfortable whenever I visited Southern, and I felt that Carbondale was my second hometown." Willadene has been someone who loved to travel, loved people and loved Southern Illinois.

Willadene is survived by one son, Joel Dean Brown, of Carbondale. Her other closest surviving relatives are Mary Jane Fisher of Albuquerque, N.M., Marge Seagrist Salt of Lake City, Utah; Jean Baity of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Earl Fyke of Jackson, Mo.

Funeral services will be conducted Monday, Dec. 5, 2005, at 1 p.m. at Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro with the Rev. John Annable officiating. Burial will be in Anna Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home today from 5 to 8 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Poshard Foundation for Abused Children, Jonesboro Fountain Park or the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra.

Family and friends are invited to gather at Willadene's home in Carbondale following the funeral services to share food and remembrances.

Hileman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.