Helen Lucille (McGiffen) Brown

HELEN BROWN

JERSEYVILLE -  Helen Lucille Brown, 86, died at 12:24 a.m., Friday, February 13, 2026 at Jersey Community Hospital in Jerseyville.

She was born in Decatur, Illinois on September 4, 1939, and was raised in her early years by her aunt, Ruth (McGiffen) Heitzman, and later in her teen years by her first cousin and her husband, Dorothy and Marion Walker.

She graduated in 1957 from Jersey Community High School in Jerseyville and soon thereafter married the love of her life, Kenneth Norman Brown.   The two married on January 4, 1958 at the First Baptist Church in Jerseyville, and together they shared 52 years of marriage before his death on November 6, 2010.

She held various occupations in her early years, but after marriage was a loving and devoted wife and mother, devoting her time and energy with her family.

She was the right hand in assisting her husband, Kenneth in his various roles, whether it was with their chain of Dixie Creme Donut Shops, or doing the fine tuning with his insurance business.   She and Kenneth were also instrumental in the development of Sugarwood Estates in Jerseyville, along with Sam and Carol Highfill.

A devoted Christian, she was a loyal member of the First Assembly of God in Jerseyville, and loved to travel, shop and entertain, with her home known for its open door policy, good food and lots of laughs, and if along the way a good Elvis song popped up, all the better.

She is survived by her daughter and son in-law, Deborah and David Meyer of Godfrey; two daughter in-law, Kayla (Dave) McGuire and Cynthia (James) Simpson all of Jerseyville; her grandchildren, Emily (Daniel) Granzow, Jeremy (Lisa) Meyer, Kristin (Forrest) Needs, Danielle Baker, Derrick (Kimmi) Brown, Cody (Katie) Brown, Dalton (Mikaila) Brown, Brooke Luna, Dane McGuire, Lindsey Boomershine and Mason Boomershine; many great grandchildren, a few great grandchildren; and two cousins, who were more like sisters, Charlene Morgan and Judy Kallal;  a sister in-law, Nancy Brown; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two sons, David Kenneth Brown on April 15, 2018 and Stephen Roland Brown on January 13, 2001; grandsons, Bradley Dugger and Jordan Boomershine; a great grandson, Jourdan Brown; a brother, Lonnie McGiffen; her father in-law and mother in-law, Norman and Carrie Brown; a brother in-law, Robert Brown; and the parents who raised her, Aunt Ruth Heitzman and Dorothy and Marion Walker.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.

Funeral Services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday at First Assembly of God in Jerseyville, with Rev. Adam Smith officiating.

Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville.

Memorials may be given to the First Assembly of God in Jerseyville.

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