Obituary of Esther Lucille (Brown) Shockley Brightwell

Esther Lucille (Brown) Shockley Brightwell, was born March 11, 1923, to Will and Bertha Lupardus Brown. She joined seven other siblings at their home near the end of Hwy D in Kaiser, Missouri. Five years later another sister was added totaling nine Brown Children.

The Brown Family was very poor like so many in rural Missouri at that time. Their lives revolved around chores with livestock, gardening, school and church. She and her eight siblings were kept busy but still made time to hike to a nearby cave for picnics and play in fields. In order to save their shoes, Lucille and siblings walked barefoot two miles through the woods to their one room Post Oak School house. Once there, they put on their shoes and at noon ate the one cold biscuit in their sack for lunch.

Lucille’s oldest sister, Lena Brown Bear offered Lucille a chance to go to high school in Tuscumbia, Missouri by helping care for Lena’s two children, Sandra and Bill. Near the end of her senior year, on December 20th, 1941, Lucille married Claudius Shockley of Iberia, Missouri. Later the couple moved to Lake Ozark where they bought and operated Ozark Market for a little over nineteen years. During this time their family grew with the birth of five children; Sharon, Lindsey, Donna, Todd and Tim.

Most of Lucille’s brothers and sisters lived near each other and thrived by sharing their daily lives. The regular phone calls, meet-ups for coffee, meals and holidays never dwindled over the years. Her brothers and sisters were always her greatest source of joy and fulfillment. As a result her children, nieces and nephews grew up together. The large extended family has become a great source of love and support for each other.

Lucille joined and regularly attended Riverview Baptist Church for over fifty years. She served in many capacities, but primarily in the kitchen, as she was known to be an excellent cook and enjoyed the work. Lucille also joined the Eastern Star in Eldon, and was active in the local PTA organization serving continuously for thirty-five years.

Lucille was a busy energetic woman. She worked in the grocery store with her husband, kept an immaculate house, cooked three meals a day, ironed anything she washed and volunteered at church and other organizations, not counting keeping up with five children all at different stages in life. Lucille also provided child care for several children.  After the couple sold the grocery store she began working full time at School of the Osage Elementary building in food service. During the summer she and Claudius worked at the Ozark Opry: he parking cars and she working in the snack bar popping popcorn and waiting on customers.

Claudius passed away in April 1989, after forty-eight years of marriage. Several years later Lucille met and married Vernon Brightwell of Jefferson City, on September 9, 1995.  The two shared twenty-two years together continuing to invite family and friends into their home.  Vernon passed away in October 2017.

One by one Lucille’s siblings passed away and she remained the only one of the nine Brown children. As a result she established a special bond with her nieces and nephews. Each one became a great pleasure and comfort to her.

Lucille was never old in spirit. At age 94 years of age, she continued to work in her yard, attend grandchildren’s events, and shop. She invited family and friends over for ‘coffee klatches’, serving pin-wheel cookies or raisin pie. Most family requests were a meal of brown beans, and fried potatoes.  Games of Brown’s Bridge or Hand and Foot were a must when visiting. The grandchildren have always adored Lucille; especially her frank conversations with them. They were able to tell her anything and often did. She provided them wisdom through stories of her struggles through life. She and the grandkids often laughed together as she expounded on past and current topics; memories her grandkids treasure.

Esther Lucille Brown Shockley Brightwell, 94, passed away at the Neighborhoods at Quail Creek in Springfield, Missouri on Saturday, January 6, 2018. She was preceded in death by her husband, Claudius Shockley and husband Vernon Brightwell, daughter, Sharon Shockley DeClue (Ron DeClue), her parents, Will and Bertha Lupardus Brown, her brothers; Earl Brown, Uhel Doc Brown, Russell Brown, Mack Brown, and sisters; Lena Brown Bear, Faye Brown Bechtold, Lela Brown Duffield, and Doris Brown Porter.

Lucille is survived by children, Todd Shockley (Daphne Forester) of Camdenton, Missouri, Tim Shockley of San Diego California, Lindsey Shockley McClure (Bruce McClure) of Swann Valley, Idaho, and Donna Shockley Carrender (Gary Carrender) of Lake Ozark, Missouri, nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

The family will welcome friends for visitation on Saturday, January 13, 2018 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at Hedges-Scott Funeral Home, Osage Beach, Missouri. Services will be held on Sunday, January 14, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Riverview Baptist Church, Osage Beach, Missouri.

 Entombment will be at Lake Memorial Garden Cemetery Mausoleum, Osage Beach.

In lieu of flowers the family would request that consideration be made to donate to either the Shockley-DeClue Memorial Scholarship fund or the American Lung Association in memorial to Lucille