William Allen Brown

Bill passed peacefully after a long battle with cancer, surrounded by his loving family at the Louisburg Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Louisburg, KS.

Bill was born in West Plains, MO on August 25, 1945 to Allen Tyrone Brown & Fern(Napier, Brown) Redburn.

Bill is survived by his wife Earlene Brown, whom he married January 22, 1967 in Noel, MO and son Scott and wife Caryn Brown of Anderson, MO and daughter Linda Brown and wife Melissa Maugeri of Kirkwood, MO. Siblings include Sandy Pitre, Doug Brown, Susie Fox and Debbie Bucheneau. Grandchildren include Justin Brown and wife Halee, Lauren Lant, Catherine Lant, Jared Brown, Logan Lant, Samantha Smith, Alexandra Smith, Jessica Smith, Grace Ruesing, Lily Ruesing and 3 great-grandchildren.

He was proceeded in death by his grandparents William and Grace Napier of West Plains, MO and David Allen and Ella Mae Brown of Birch Tree, MO. Mother Fern Redburn, father and stepmother Allen Tyrone and Polly Brown, sisters Carolyn Trimble and Donna Spencer and 2 great-granddaughters.

Bill joined the United States Air Force in December 1965, where he served as a Microwave Communications Specialist in West Germany.

During his career, he worked at Bendix in Kansas City, MO for 10 years. Bulk Mail Center for the USPS in Turner, KS for 5 years. JC Penney Dist. Center, Lenexa, KS for 29 years. He was the manager of the Engineering Dept. when he retired and the only non-degreed person to work there as an engineer.

Outside of work he enjoyed the outdoors, whether it was yard work, tending to his garden or hunting and fishing with Scott, Linda and his grandkids. He was a very respectful and respected man. He was very friendly and outgoing and always had a joke or 1 liner ready. He never knew a stranger. Bill was loved by many and will be missed.

He was known by many names throughout his life. Jimmy (family), Bill, Brownie (co-workers), Honey (Earlene), Dad, Daddy (kids), PopPaw (grandkids) and Santa by 1000’s.

Bill and wife Earlene played Santa and Mrs. Claus for 19 years. It was some of the best years of their lives spreading Christmas cheer to many in California, Kansas and Texas.

A celebration of life will be held at Southfork Baptist Church, 31903 State Hwy O, Drexel, MO on January 24, 2026 @ 1pm. Gathering to follow at The Fishing Dock, 101 S. West Outer Rd., Archie, MO 64725