Barbara Sue Brown

Barbara Sue (Hillegas) Brown passed away November 2, 2023. Barbara was born January 3, 1939, in the family home in Lowry City, Missouri to Roy E. and Vernie B. (Cooper) Hillegas. Her family moved to Kansas City, Missouri before she started school. She attended Ashland Grade School and graduated from East High School.

She began her career at Sears as a secretary, then spent several years at U.S. Steel, working downtown in the KCP&L building. She married her high school sweetheart, Charles A. Brown, and they were married for 24 years. Barbara stayed home with her two children, Kyndra and Jeff, until they were both in school. These were some of the happiest years of her life. She loved being a mother and being involved in her kids’ lives and activities. She enjoyed cooking and decorating and doing craft projects. She went back to work for Hesse Corp for 18 years, and retired from its successor, American Body in 2004.

Barbara was baptized at the age of 12 in the Jackson Avenue Christian Church and remained a member of the Disciples of Christ denomination all her life. She was an active member of First Christian Church of Independence for many years, and enjoyed participating in the Disciples Women’s Ministry, Sunday School, and volunteering wherever she could.

Barbara spent her early retirement years enjoying travel, and spending time with family and friends. Her three grandchildren gave her such great joy. She was so very proud of each of them. She enjoyed getting together with her high school friends and with her grief recovery friends. She was honored to be a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She loved animals and especially the nine dogs she had throughout her life.

Barbara’s life was touched by tragedy when she lost both her children much too young. She loved and admired them both and missed them every remaining day of her life. But Barbara had great faith and knew she would be with them again. Her strength and determination to live out the rest of her life was amazing to behold.

In the last years of Barbara’s life, she struggled with declining health and was limited in what she was able to do. She had the love, support, assistance and friendship of special people very dear to her heart. She loved and appreciated them so much.

Barbara was a beautiful person inside and out. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She will be missed by all who knew her and loved her so very much.

Barbara is survived by beloved grandchildren Avayn James Baker, Nicholas Joseph Brown and Hannah Kellett Brown, daughter-in-law Maureen Brown, sister-in-law Virgie Hillegas, nieces and nephews David Schmidli, Ricki (Roy) LaZelle, Sue Keller, Carol Hillegas, and Mike Hillegas, cousins, and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by son Jeffrey Charles Brown, daughter Kyndra Lynn Baker,

parents Roy and Vernie Hillegas, brother James Michael Hillegas, and sister Betty Louise Schmidli.

Graveside service and inurnment will be at 2pm, Thursday, November 16, 2023, at Mount Olivet Cemetery and Mausoleum, 7601 Blue Ridge Blvd, Kansas City, MO.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to First Christian Church of Independence at 125 S. Pleasant, Independence, MO 64050, The Lupus Foundation of America, or The American Heart Association.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel (816) 373-3600)