Brown, Janet K. 1936-2025 Springfield, Mo.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Janet Kay (Waller) Brown was born in St. Joseph on Nov. 15, 1936, the daughter of Forrest and Eloise (Kelley) Waller. She passed away on Nov. 22, 2025,
Janet was raised on a farm south of St. Joseph, graduated from Faucett High School, St. Joseph Junior College, Northwest Missouri State University, and the Masters Program of MSU. She met her soulmate and future husband, Donald Richard Brown, in Junior College, and they were married in 1957. They have two daughters, Kelley and Andrea.
Janet taught seven years at Hyde Elementary, in St. Joseph. She and Don moved the family to Springfield, Missouri, in 1972, and she taught seven years at Bingham Elementary and 16 years in the WINGS (gifted) program. She retired in 1995 and remained interested in following the lives and careers of her former students. During her teaching career she was active at various times in the International Reading Association, MSTA, SEA, the Gifted Association of Missouri, and Delta Kappa Gamma. She was thankful for the friends she made through those organizations. Janet was happy teaching and pleased that both her daughters chose to be teachers, also. After she retired, she volunteered at Crosslines, Gray/Campbell Farmstead, and Friends of the Library.
Janet was an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church and was especially involved in United Methodist Women and the Mission Outreach committee.
She enjoyed traveling, reading, collecting antique schoolbooks, and entertaining family and friends at their summer home on Table Rock Lake. Janet and Don felt blessed that their daughters raised their families in Springfield so they were able to participate in the grandchildren’s school, sports, and dance activities.
Janet is survived by her husband, Don Brown; her daughters, Kelley Nichols and her husband, Nelson, and Andrea Still and her husband, Tony. She has five grandchildren and two bonus granddaughters: Leah Joll (Seb), Logan Still (Missy), Lucas Still (Sarah), Sierra Stream (Tommy), Skyler Nelson (Chase), Lori Wolf (Tim), and Beth Nichols Beisner (Ryan). Janet has 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great- grandson. She is also survived by her brother, Gary Waller, and her brother Michael’s widow, Mary Ann Waller, both of the St. Joseph area; as well as sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sandra and Ray Bally, of the Omaha, Nebraska, area. Many much-loved nieces and nephews survive her in St. Joseph, Kansas City, and Omaha.
Janet was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Michael Waller; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Belva and Robert Brown; her sister-in-law, Pat Waller; and brother-in-law Doug Brown.
A memorial service will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church on Monday, Dec. 8, with visitation at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m. under the care of Gorman Scharpf Funeral Home. At her request, Janet will be cremated and her ashes scattered at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Donald and Janet Brown Pharmacy Scholarship, UMKC College of Pharmacy, UMKC Foundation, 202 Administration Center, 5115 Oak Street, Kansas City, MO 64112.
(This obituary was self-written by Janet before her death, and her family would like to add that Janet was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother who gave all of us her very best every day of her life, and we will miss her greatly.) As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
