Shirley Elaine "Johnnie" Brown (Johnson)

Shirley Elaine “Johnnie” (Johnson) Brown, 95, died on Sunday, April 11, 2021 at the home surrounded by her loving family. She was born on July 6, 1925 in Mondamin, Iowa to Joseph and Minnie Bell (Pratt) Johnson. She graduated from Mondamin High School, and at the age of 17 moved to Independence to join the Cadet Nurse Corp in 1943. While attending nurses training at the Independence Sanitarium and Hospital, she met her future husband, Stanton Brown. They were married in 1945. After completing her Nurse Certification Program, she took time to raise a family and then continued her nursing career in 1963. Her life was full and remarkable. She touched many lives during her career as a Registered Nurse. She was very active in her church and exemplified “servant leadership” before it was a thing. She was an active participant in many Masonic-related orders. She loved traveling with her husband and supporting his Masonic endeavors throughout their life together. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Minnie Johnson; her husband of 69 years, Stanton Brown; and her sister, Muriel Alvin. She is survived by her children, Stanton Brown II, Joseph “Mike” Brown and wife Linda, Timothy Brown and wife Carol, David Brown and wife Jennifer, and Barbara Wiliker and husband Ben, 13 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren and many nephews and nieces. Visitation will be held at Buckner Community of Christ church on Thursday, April 15 from 6-8 PM with OES Funeral Ceremony to follow. Funeral services will be at 11 AM on Friday, April 16. Burial at Buckner Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to One Community Hospice.